Special education evaluations shape the future of students who need extra support, yet the process is far from straightforward. A single evaluation can determine whether a child gets life-changing services or continues to struggle without the help they need. The stakes could not be higher.
In this blog, we’ll highlight some of the main takeaways from our webinar, Reflecting on Practices: Comprehensive Special Education Evaluations, presented by Kami Bible, OTR/L, MBA, Kay Kelly, Ed.S., and Sarah Plunkett, MS CCC-SLP. We’ll also share practical tips for improving your evaluation practices and discuss how to ensure evaluations are fair, accurate, and truly reflect each student’s needs.
Table of Contents
The Impact of Evaluations
Despite the importance of getting it right, the evaluation process is often inconsistent. IDEA outlines broad eligibility requirements but does not define key terms like “adverse impact” or “educational performance.” That means schools and evaluators must interpret these concepts on their own, leading to differences in how students qualify for services.
Biases in the system add another challenge. Research shows that Black students are more likely to be identified with emotional disabilities but are underrepresented in gifted programs.
Some students with undiagnosed disabilities are mislabeled as having behavioral issues instead of getting the right support. These missteps can change a student’s entire educational experience, reinforcing inequities and limiting opportunities.
As Kay Kelly, school psychologist, emphasized:
“Sometimes those eligibility and evaluation statements feel dry, but the impact of our evaluations is significant. A misclassification can change the entire trajectory of a student’s education.”
To ensure evaluations are fair, accurate, and meaningful, school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and special education teams need to go beyond test scores. A strong evaluation provides a complete picture of a student’s strengths and challenges, leading to better decisions and outcomes.
What Makes an Evaluation Effective?
A strong evaluation is built on a complete understanding of the student. The RIOT model, which stands for Review, Interview, Observe, and Test, helps evaluators gather the right information:
- Review school records, attendance, interventions, and past test scores.
- Interview parents, teachers, and students to hear about their experiences.
- Observe the student in different settings to see how they engage and behave.
- Test with formal and informal assessments to measure academic, cognitive, and social-emotional skills.
Bringing together these data points helps evaluators reduce misclassification and ensure students receive the support they truly need.
Breaking Down Key Special Education Diagnoses
Other Health Impairment (OHI): More Than a Medical Condition
Many students with OHI have conditions like ADHD, epilepsy, or chronic illnesses, but a diagnosis alone is not enough to qualify for special education. Evaluators must show that the condition affects the student’s strength, vitality, or alertness in a way that impacts learning. Without that clear connection, some students might miss out on critical services.
Kelly noted the hardest part is making sure evaluations consider the full scope of a student’s challenges:
“The inability to hear or see functionally can mimic a disability. If we don’t clear those rollouts first, we could be misidentifying a student and failing to address the actual root of the issue.”
Emotional Disability (ED): The Complexity of Mental Health in Schools
Determining eligibility for emotional disabilities is one of the most challenging areas of special education. Students must show at least one of the following:
- Difficulty forming or maintaining relationships
- Inappropriate behaviors or reactions to everyday situations
- A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression
- Physical symptoms or irrational fears tied to emotional distress
One of the biggest challenges is distinguishing between emotional disabilities and social maladjustment. While both can result in behavioral concerns, emotional disabilities stem from internal struggles rather than intentional defiance.
Schools must carefully navigate these cases to ensure students with emotional needs get the right support rather than being disciplined for behaviors beyond their control.
As Kelly pointed out, misidentifications are not just paperwork errors; they have real consequences:
“If we get it wrong, the impact of misclassification is significant. Students placed in special education classes often track into those settings for years. Teachers may lower expectations, and students lose access to their peers, reinforcing a social stigma that follows them.”
Speech-Language Impairment: When Communication Becomes a Barrier
Speech and language disorders can create academic and social challenges for students. Speech-language pathologists assess difficulties with articulation, fluency, and language comprehension using a combination of standardized tests, informal language samples, and classroom observations. These evaluations help determine whether a student needs direct intervention or support within the general education setting.
Sarah Plunkett, speech-language pathologist, emphasized the importance of flexible assessments:
“Standardized tests give us important data, but informal measures—like real-life language samples—often tell us the most about how a student truly communicates.”
The Role of Teletherapy in Special Education Evaluations
As teletherapy becomes more common in schools, virtual evaluations must be just as effective as in-person assessments. Digital versions of standardized tests, remote observation tools, and secure video conferencing platforms make high-quality online assessment possible. Schools must also ensure compliance with legal and publisher guidelines to maintain accuracy and reliability.
With a nationwide shortage of qualified school psychologists and speech-language pathologists, districts are struggling to keep up with evaluation demands. That is where eLuma comes in.
Our network of experienced, credentialed professionals provides high-quality teletherapy evaluations and support to ensure every student receives a fair and timely assessment. We help districts close gaps, streamline evaluation processes, and provide expertise in cases where teams need additional guidance.
The Path to Better Outcomes with eLuma
An evaluation is more than a decision about eligibility. It shapes how students are supported, how educators address their needs, and how they succeed in school. When evaluations are rushed, incomplete, or influenced by bias, students miss out on crucial resources. When done right, evaluations open doors to better learning experiences, greater independence, and a more equitable education system.
eLuma partners with schools to strengthen evaluation practices and ensure students get necessary services. Our dedicated school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and mental health providers work alongside district teams to deliver comprehensive evaluations and expert guidance, whether in-person resources are stretched too thin or specialized expertise is required.
As Kelly mentioned, the goal is not just to meet compliance requirements, but to truly serve students:
“Our role is to advocate for students, to provide evaluations that are fair, accurate, and thorough. When we do this well, we change lives.”
Every student deserves an evaluation that reflects their needs and potential. With the right support, schools can provide better assessment and, in turn, better outcomes for students.
About the Experts
Kami, Bible, OTR/L, MBA National Presenter and Clinical Services Manager at eLuma.
Kami has 25 years of occupational therapy experience, including school-based practice, and 7 years of experience in online therapy.
Kay Kelly, Ed.S. Mental Health Clinical Services Specialist at eLuma.
Kay has 15 years of experience as a school psychologist in the public education system, supporting students in Early Childhood through age 21. Experienced indiagnostic assessment, crisis response, intervention, and advocacy.
Sarah Plunkett, MS CCC-SLP Clinical Services Specialist at eLuma.
Sarah has 15 years of Speech-Language Pathology experience in a variety of settings, including school-based therapy and teletherapy.
