How to Request a Special Education Evaluation in Alaska

If you suspect your child may need special education services, knowing how to request an IEP evaluation in Alaska is the most important first step you can take. Federal law gives every parent the right to ask their school district to evaluate their child at no cost — and Alaska's public schools are required to respond. This guide walks you through the entire process, from writing your first letter to understanding what happens next.

What Is a Special Education Evaluation?

A special education evaluation (also called an "initial evaluation") is a comprehensive assessment that looks at whether your child has a disability and, if so, what educational needs result from that disability. It may include academic testing, psychological assessments, speech-language screenings, occupational therapy observations, and more — whatever is needed to get a full picture of your child.

The goal of the evaluation is to determine whether your child qualifies for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and is entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) — meaning specially designed instruction at no cost to your family (20 U.S.C. § 1401(9); 34 C.F.R. § 300.17).

Who Can Request an Evaluation?

Under federal law, either a parent or the school district can initiate a special education evaluation (20 U.S.C. § 1414(a)(1); 34 C.F.R. § 300.301). You do not need a doctor's referral, a teacher's recommendation, or anyone's permission. If you believe your child may have a disability affecting their education, you have the right to ask.

This applies whether your child:

• Attends a public school in Alaska
• Is homeschooled but lives within a district's boundaries
• Is enrolled in a charter school
• Attends a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) school in Alaska

Step 1: Put Your Request in Writing

A verbal request is easy to overlook or misplace. Always request an evaluation in writing so that the district's legal timeline begins and you have a clear record. Your letter does not need to be formal or use legal language — it simply needs to be clear and direct.

Include the following in your letter:

• Your child's full name, date of birth, grade, and school
• A brief description of your concerns (e.g., reading difficulties, speech delays, behavioral challenges, trouble focusing)
• A clear statement that you are requesting a full and individual initial evaluation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Your name, phone number, and email address
• The date you are writing the letter

Sample opening sentence: "I am writing to request a full and individual initial evaluation for my child, [Name], under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to determine whether [he/she/they] is eligible for special education services."

Keep a copy of the letter for yourself, and send it in a way you can track — email with read receipt, certified mail, or hand-delivery with a date-stamped copy.

Step 2: Address Your Letter to the Right Person

Send your written request to your child's school principal and, ideally, also to the district's special education director. You can usually find the director's contact information on your district's website. Sending to both ensures the letter reaches someone with authority to act on it quickly.

If you are unsure who to contact, call the main office of your child's school and ask: "Who should I send a written special education evaluation request to?"

Step 3: Understand the Timeline Alaska Schools Must Follow

Once your written request is received, the clock starts. Under federal law, the district has 60 calendar days to complete the initial evaluation (34 C.F.R. § 300.301(c)(1)). Alaska follows this federal timeline.

Here is what those 60 days look like in practice:

• Within a few days to a couple of weeks: The district will contact you to discuss the evaluation and ask for your written consent to evaluate. They cannot begin testing without your signed consent.
• After you sign consent: The 60-day clock officially begins. The evaluation team will gather information, conduct assessments, and review records.
• By day 60: The district must complete the evaluation and hold an IEP eligibility meeting with you to share the results.

Important: The 60-day timeline does not include days when school is not in session (such as summer break) if your child has not yet started school in the district. However, for children already enrolled, the clock runs on calendar days — weekends and holidays count. Always note the date your consent is signed.

Step 4: Give (or Decline) Consent

Before any testing begins, the district must give you a Prior Written Notice (PWN) — a written document explaining what evaluations they propose to conduct, why, and what they plan to use the results for (20 U.S.C. § 1415(b)(3), (c)(1); 34 C.F.R. § 300.503). Read this carefully.

You will then be asked to sign a consent form. You have the right to:

• Consent to all proposed evaluations
• Consent to some and decline others
• Decline the evaluation entirely (though this means the district cannot proceed)

If you decline part of the evaluation, the district may still proceed with the portions you approved.

Step 5: Participate in the Evaluation Process

You are a vital member of the evaluation team — not just an observer. During the 60-day window, you may:

• Share school records, medical reports, or outside evaluations you already have
• Provide written input about your child's strengths, challenges, and behavior at home
• Ask questions about what assessments are being used and why
• Request that specific areas of concern be evaluated (for example, if you are concerned about both reading and attention, say so in your request letter)

Step 6: Attend the Eligibility Meeting

When the evaluation is complete, the district will schedule an eligibility meeting — sometimes called an IEP team meeting or an "MDT" (Multidisciplinary Team) meeting. At this meeting, the team will:

• Review all evaluation results with you
• Determine whether your child meets eligibility criteria under one or more of IDEA's 13 disability categories
• If eligible, begin the process of developing an IEP

If you disagree with the evaluation results, you have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense. This is a separate process, and you would initiate it by notifying the district in writing.

What If the District Says No?

If the district refuses to evaluate your child, they must provide you with a Prior Written Notice explaining why (34 C.F.R. § 300.503). They must also give you a copy of your procedural safeguards — a document explaining your rights under IDEA.

If you receive a refusal, you have options:

• Request a meeting to discuss the district's reasoning
• Provide additional documentation (medical records, outside assessments, teacher observations) to support the need for evaluation
• File a state complaint with the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development
• Request mediation or a due process hearing

For due process or situations where you feel your child's rights have been seriously denied, consulting a qualified special education attorney or advocate is strongly recommended.

Keep Records of Everything

Throughout this process, create a simple folder — paper or digital — and save every letter, email, consent form, PWN, and evaluation report. Note the date of every conversation. This record protects your child and makes every future IEP meeting more productive.