If your child's school or doctor has said "let's wait and see" about a possible delay, you're probably wondering the same thing most parents wonder: Do I have to accept that? The short answer is no. You can ask for a free evaluation in writing, and once you do, a legal clock starts running.
That one action is the most concrete step you can take right now. It doesn't matter that someone suggested waiting first. A written request puts the decision in your hands, not theirs.
What "wait and see" really means
Most of the time, "wait and see" isn't anyone acting in bad faith. Schools run informal supports, watch progress over a few weeks, and try to help without a full process. Teachers care. The trouble is that watching and waiting can quietly push back the one thing that gives your child protected rights: an evaluation.
An evaluation is a free assessment the school does to see if your child has a disability and needs special education services. Under federal law, called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), you have the right to request one at any time.
You can request an evaluation in writing today
You don't need permission to ask. Under IDEA, a parent can request an initial evaluation, and putting it in writing starts a formal timeline (34 CFR 300.301). Once the school gets your written request, it has to respond in writing too, either agreeing to evaluate or explaining in writing why it won't (34 CFR 300.503).
Here's the part that matters most: an informal support plan, extra monitoring, or a "wait and see" period can't be used to delay or deny that evaluation once you've asked. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) said this plainly in OSEP Memo 11-07. A process meant to help your child can't become the reason the clock never starts.
What to put in your written request
Keep it short and clear. You can send it by email or a dated letter, and keep a copy. The Center for Parent Information and Resources, a federally funded parent center, offers a model letter for requesting an evaluation. Your request should include:
- Your child's full name, date of birth, and school or grade.
- A plain sentence asking the school to evaluate your child for special education.
- The specific concerns you're seeing, like speech, reading, attention, or motor skills.
- Any notes from your pediatrician or another provider.
- The date, and a request that the school reply in writing.
A sample line you can use: "I am requesting that the school conduct a full initial evaluation of my child for special education eligibility under IDEA. Please send me written consent forms and let me know the next steps."
How long the school has
Once you give written consent for the evaluation, the school generally has 60 days to complete it under federal law, unless your state has set its own timeline (34 CFR 300.301). That timeframe is one reason the written request matters so much. A verbal "let's revisit this in the spring" carries no deadline. A signed consent form does.
What if my child is very young?
Age changes the process, not your right to ask. Special education services are available starting at age 3 (34 CFR 300.111). If your child is under 3, the system is early intervention under what IDEA calls Part C, and you should ask about a transition plan as your child approaches age 3.
There's also an eligibility category called Developmental Delay, meant for younger children who are behind in areas like communication, movement, or social skills. It's a real IDEA category, but it's a state option, and the exact ages it covers vary within the range of 3 through 9 (34 CFR 300.8(b)). So the label and the process can look a little different depending on your child's age and where you live. Your right to request an evaluation stays the same.
Frequently asked questions
Can the school make me try interventions before evaluating my child?
No. The school can offer extra support, but it can't require you to wait through those supports before it evaluates your child once you've made a written request. OSEP addressed this directly in Memo 11-07. If you're told you have to wait, send your request in writing and ask for a written response.
What if the school says my child is too young?
Ask which system applies. Services are available from age 3, and children under 3 are covered by early intervention. If your child is 3 or older and someone says they're "too young to evaluate," that's your cue to put the request in writing and ask the school to respond in writing.
Do I need a diagnosis first?
No. You don't need a formal diagnosis to request an evaluation. A doctor's note about your concerns can help, but the school's job is to evaluate and decide eligibility. Send your written request with the concerns you're already seeing.
What if the school says no?
If the school refuses to evaluate, it has to tell you why in writing (34 CFR 300.503). That written notice gives you something concrete to respond to. Keep every email and letter, and follow up in writing.
Your next step
Write the request today. One dated email, sent to your child's teacher and the school's special education contact, starts the timeline that "wait and see" never will. If you'd like backup, an education advocate can help you prepare and can join your IEP meeting to push for what the law already requires. An IEP, short for Individualized Education Program, is the written plan a school uses once a child qualifies for services. Turnout is one option for that kind of support: they prepare with you and sit beside you in the meeting, so you're not walking in alone.
You didn't do anything wrong by asking questions. Your next step is still ahead of you, and it starts with one written request. Start your request today.
