Rosalinda,
What grade is your son in? We just found out my ds, 3rd grade, has learning disorders, basically Dyslexia. He writes numbers and letters backwards, has horrible handwriting and spelling and has always been told he is below grade level in reading, no matter how much we work with him, and his tutor works with him, and no matter how much massive improvement he has shown for us. He even enjoys reading, but still has terrible problems. As for the testing, I am not sure. GL.
Why does your son have an IEP? What qualifies him for Special Education services? What particular test do you want the school to do? He's in 1st grade. Basically he has the same problems as your son. lilies9938685.6597916667What I am assuming by your wanting those tests performed is that they have not been performed? He was assessed for speech, qualified, and ADHD was tagged on to his existing IEP?
O.K. Can you request certain tests? Yes, you can request them. How much you can insist upon them is the question. The school will perform an intelligence test and an achievement test, when it tests for learning disabilities. The tests they use will depend on the school district. You can ask which tests the district uses, and you can request certain tests within their list to be used. Now, my experience has been that the larger the district, the greater amount of tests you will have from which to choose.
I have a friend with two autistic children, who speak English as a second language. They live in a large city, and when her children were tested for Special Education services, she insisted that her children be tested with the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT), and her wish was granted. I live in the burbs, and my son attends a much, much smaller school district. When I recently gave the school permission to test my son, I had to check off that I gave permission for both an IQ test and an achievement test. Beside the check box, there was a list of possible tests he could be given in each category. I noted that the UNIT was not listed. If my friend lived out here, I am not sure that she could insist on the UNIT. I am not sure about the law regarding that.
I will say that I think you are going to have a hard time with your request because you are asking for more than one test in each category. The phonological processing test you want to request is not usually given, unless something like dyslexia is suspected. I take it you suspect this?
What I would do is call your district and ask them their policy about parents selecting which tests are to be given. If the achievement test and IQ test you want are listed in their possible test choices, you may be able to choose them from the list, but I doubt the school district will give more than one achievement test and more than one IQ test, just because a parent wants more than one given. Again, I think this will depend on the district, so call and ask.
My son is dyslexic, and my advice is that if you suspect your child is dyslexic to take your child to someone who is an expert in the testing of dyslexic children. I believe that many diagnosticians and psychologists do not have the training necessary to spot dyslexia. JMHO.
lillian38685.7371180556 He has an IEP for Speech and ADHD... I want the Woodcock Johnson III, CTOPP, WIATT II, and WTSC test done. lilies9938685.6950115741Lilies99,
Just wondering -- why do you want both the Woodcock-Johnson and WIATT tests done? Both are achievement tests and essentially serve the same purpose. It is unlikely even a private neuropsychologist would administer both tests to evaluate a child. It is simply not necessary.
What is the WTSC test? Did you mean WISC-IV (IQ test)? That is the IQ test most frequently administered.
I agree with Lillian -- if you really want to know whether your child has dyslexia, you should have your son evaluated by a speech and language pathologist who has the necessary training to assess for dyslexia.
The Woodcock-Johnson and the WIATT are not identical, but they are both achievement tests and serve the same purpose. I would suggest you go back to the Learning Center Director and ask why he/she recommends both tests be done.
Thank you both for the info...I was told by the Learning Center Director to have both the Woodcock-Johnson and Wiatt test done. I didn't know that they where the same...and yes I do suspect dyslexia...
The Woodcock-Johnson and the WIATT are not identical, but they are both achievement tests and serve the same purpose.
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Exactly. This is why I was saying that I did not think the school would honor your request to take multiple tests in one category. I think if you requested the Woodcock-Johnson Achievement Test and the WISC IQ test, you would not have a problem because these are standard in schools across the country. Giving tests costs the school money, and I don't believe they will give more than one test in a single category (achievement or IQ) without a fight. An exception to this would be a parent requesting that two completely different types of IQ tests being given, such as the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test being given in addition to the WISC because the WISC is a verbal test, when it is highly probable that language would interfere with the verbal IQ test score.
lillian38686.537037037