Applying IDEA to Educational Evaluations: Practical Guidance for Psychologists

Presented by Nicole Joseph, J.D. and Kate Rabb, J.D.

Private psychologists and evaluators play a critical role in helping students with disabilities obtain the educational services and supports they need to receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). This session explains how evaluation reports are used throughout the special education process and provides practical guidance on preparing evaluations that are legally meaningful, educationally relevant, and useful to school teams. 

Participants will gain an overview of the legal framework governing special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504, understand how evaluation findings influence eligibility, IEP development, and placement decisions, and learn how to write recommendations that clearly connect data to a student's educational needs. The presenters will also discuss common pitfalls that reduce the effectiveness of evaluation reports, strategies for communicating recommendations in legally appropriate language, and the important role evaluators can play during IEP meetings. Attendees will leave…