How to Request an IEP Evaluation: A Sample Letter Guide

Why put it in writing?

A written, dated request matters because it creates a paper trail and, in most states, triggers the legal timeline for the school to respond. Verbal requests can get lost; a letter or email cannot. Keep a copy of everything you send and note who you sent it to. This is the single most important step, and it costs nothing but a few minutes.

What should you include in your letter?

Keep it short and clear. Include: the date; your child's full name, date of birth, and grade; a direct sentence stating you are requesting a comprehensive special-education evaluation under IDEA; a brief description of your concerns (academic struggles, attention, anxiety, attendance); any relevant context such as falling grades or a clinician's input; and your contact information with a request to be contacted to schedule. Ask for written acknowledgment and the school's proposed next steps.

A sample letter you can adapt

> [Date] > > Dear [Principal / Special Education Coordinator name], > > I am the parent of [Child's full name], date of birth [DOB], who is in [grade] at [school]. I am writing to formally request a comprehensive special-education evaluation for my child under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). > > I am concerned about [briefly describe: e.g., ongoing difficulty with reading and attention; increasing anxiety affecting attendance and class participation]. [Optional: My child is also being seen by a clinician who can provide supporting documentation.] > > Please consider this my written consent to begin the evaluation process, and let me know the next steps and timeline. You can reach me at [phone] and [email]. > > Thank you for your help. > > Sincerely, > [Your name]

Adapt the bracketed parts to your situation and keep a copy.

What happens next, and IEP versus 504

After your request, the school reviews it and, with your consent, conducts the evaluation, then a team meets to decide eligibility and, if eligible, write the plan. It helps to know the difference between two paths. An IEP (under IDEA) provides specialized instruction and services for a qualifying disability. A 504 plan (under Section 504) provides accommodations, such as extended time or a quiet testing setting, for a student whose disability substantially limits a major life activity, including mental-health conditions like anxiety or depression 1Ref 1U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (2024).Section 504 Protections for Students with Depression.A student whose depression or other mental-health condition substantially limits a major life activity is entitled to individualized Section 504 accommodations.2Ref 2U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (2024).Frequently Asked Questions: Section 504 Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).Section 504 entitles eligible students to reasonable accommodations such as extended time and testing in a quiet, distraction-free setting.. If your child does not qualify for an IEP, a 504 plan may still be appropriate.

How a clinician strengthens the request

A clinician strengthens an evaluation request in concrete ways. A psychologist or therapist can administer validated assessments and provide documentation of a condition and how it limits learning, attention, or attendance, which is exactly the evidence a school team weighs and which supports eligibility under Section 504 for mental-health conditions 1Ref 1U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (2024).Section 504 Protections for Students with Depression.A student whose depression or other mental-health condition substantially limits a major life activity is entitled to individualized Section 504 accommodations.3Ref 3U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (1995).The Civil Rights of Students With Hidden Disabilities and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.Hidden disabilities including emotional illness are covered by Section 504, and schools must evaluate and accommodate students whose conditions substantially limit learning.. A clinician can also help you decide whether the concern points toward an IEP or a 504 plan, write a supporting letter, and coordinate directly with the school. When the driver is anxiety or a mood concern affecting school, they can deliver evidence-based treatment such as CBT alongside the school process so the educational and clinical supports reinforce each other 4Ref 4Kendall PC, Hudson JL, Gosch E, Flannery-Schroeder E, Suveg C (2008).Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disordered youth: a randomized clinical trial evaluating child and family modalities.Individual and family CBT are empirically supported treatments for childhood anxiety disorders..