Psycho-Educational Evaluations

What is their purpose? What do they involve?

What is their purpose? The primary purpose of a Psycho-Educational Evaluation is to determine Special Education Eligibility. A referral to evaluate the need for Special Education Services is typically received when classroom interventions and accommodations have been unsuccessful in meeting the student’s needs and the student continues to fall behind academically. Special Education is specially designed instruction that provides intensive or individualized instruction to the areas a student has demonstrated a significant weakness in, in order to help that student be more successful in school.

What do they involve? A Psycho-Educational Evaluation is the process by which a School Psychologist gathers information about a student from a variety of resources and compiles that information into an Evaluation Report.

  1. An evaluation typically begins with gathering information from school records (reports cards, group achievement test results and other information in the student’s file).
  2. Information is gathered from the parents through an interview process and through completion of various checklists.
  3. Teachers may also be asked to complete checklists in addition to providing examples of the student’s work, classroom assessments and a summary of their concerns and observations.
  4. The School Psychologist observes the student in the classroom and spends time with the student individually. The School Psychologist administers a variety of tasks which may or may not include checklists to evaluate social and emotional concerns, achievement testing, and intellectual testing. Throughout the course of these assessments, the School Psychologist observes the student’s strategies and engages in discussion with the student in order to get to know them better.
  5. The School Psychologist analyzes the data obtained in these assessments and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the student. If significant areas of weakness are identified, then the Psychologist may perform additional assessments specific to that area of weakness in order to determine underlying causes or strategies that will help the student to be more successful.
  6. After all of this information is summarized, the School Psychologist determines if the student meets eligibility criteria for Special Education Services and recommends strategies that may help the student be more successful.
  1. If the student is determined to be eligible for Special Education Services, the student’s educational team meets to discuss implementation of these strategies and design an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) for the student with possible modifications to the classroom expectations.
  2. If the student does not meet the eligibility criteria, then strategies related to the student’s weaknesses are recommended to be implemented in the classroom environment and/or at home.