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What's going on?

Worried about your child at school? Pick what you are noticing to see who can help, what to ask the school, and where to find help outside school.

What are you noticing?

Pick what fits. You will see who can help, what to ask the school, and where to find help outside school. This is a starting point, not a diagnosis. Only an evaluation can tell you why something is hard.

Pick one or more

Where to start

Reading or spelling

You might notice
  • Trouble sounding out words, or guessing from pictures
  • Reads slowly and tires fast
  • Spelling the same word many ways
  • Avoids reading out loud
Ask the school for
  • A full evaluation that includes reading skills tied to dyslexia: phonological awareness, decoding, fluency and spelling
  • What reading screening the school has done, and the scores
Help outside school
Read and use

Writing or handwriting

You might notice
  • Handwriting is hard to read or very slow
  • Avoids writing, or writes much less than they can say
  • Trouble organizing ideas on paper
Ask the school for
  • An evaluation of written expression and fine motor skills
  • An occupational therapy evaluation
  • An assistive technology evaluation (typing, speech to text)
Help outside school
Read and use

Speech or language

You might notice
  • Hard to understand
  • Few words for their age, or trouble putting words together
  • Trouble following directions or answering questions
  • Stuttering
Ask the school for
  • A speech and language evaluation by a speech language pathologist
  • If your child cannot speak much: an evaluation for a communication device (AAC)
Help outside school
Read and use

Attention or focus

You might notice
  • Hard to start or finish work
  • Loses things, forgets steps
  • Very active or impulsive, more than other kids the same age
Ask the school for
  • An evaluation for an IEP (often under Other Health Impairment) or a Section 504 plan
  • Accommodations and a behavior plan while you wait
Help outside school
Read and use

Behavior or emotions

You might notice
  • Frequent calls home, or sent home early
  • Worry, sadness or anger that gets in the way
  • Refuses to go to school
Ask the school for
  • A functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and a behavior intervention plan
  • An evaluation that includes social and emotional needs
  • Count early pickups as removals
Help outside school
Read and use
Also see
MentalHealthAtlas for kids and teens

Two things that are always true

  • You can ask for an evaluation any time, in writing. The school cannot make you wait for a program like RTI or MTSS to finish first.
  • The school evaluation is free. If you disagree with it, you can ask for an independent evaluation at the school's expense.

The law: 34 CFR 300.301(b); 300.502

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.