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Monique Henderson, founder of Bright StepsBright StepsBehavior GPS
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How to request an IEP evaluation (with a free letter template)

Asking out loud at pickup does nothing. A written request starts a legal clock. Here are the 6 steps, the timelines to hold the school to, and a letter you can copy, fill in, and send in the next 10 minutes.

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The 6 steps

  1. 1

    Collect 2 weeks of dated notes

    What happened, when, how long, what the school reported. One line each is enough. Paper is what moves a school — worry is not.

  2. 2

    Send the letter by email

    To the principal and the special education coordinator, cc the teacher. Use the template below. Keep the sent copy.

  3. 3

    Ask for three things back

    Consent forms, your parental rights, and written confirmation of the received date. All three, every time.

  4. 4

    Sign and return consent the same day

    In most states, the evaluation clock starts the day you sign. Do not let it sit in a backpack.

  5. 5

    Follow up in one week if it is quiet

    Resend the same email with "Following up on my written request dated [date]" and add the special education director.

  6. 6

    Ask for the report before the meeting

    Request it 3 school days early so you read it at your kitchen table, not for the first time in a room full of staff.

The IEP request letter template

Replace anything in [brackets]. Keep the last paragraph — that is the part that makes a "no" arrive in writing.

Subject: Written request for a special education evaluation — [Child's full name], [Grade], [Teacher]

Dear [Principal name] and [Case manager / Special Education Coordinator],

I am the parent of [Child's full name], date of birth [DOB], currently in [grade] with [teacher] at [school].

I am writing to formally request a full and individual special education evaluation for my child under IDEA, including a functional behavior assessment.

Here is what I am seeing:
- [Behavior or struggle #1 — what it looks like, how often, how long]
- [Behavior or struggle #2]
- [How this is affecting learning, grades, or class time]

This has been happening since [approximate date]. I have attached my dated log of what we see at home[, and outside documentation from [provider]].

Please send me:
1. Written consent forms for the evaluation.
2. A copy of my parental rights (procedural safeguards).
3. Written confirmation of the date this request was received and the timeline for the evaluation.

If the district decides not to evaluate, please send me that decision in writing with the reason, along with prior written notice.

Thank you for your help. I can be reached at [phone] or [email], and I am glad to meet at your earliest availability.

Sincerely,
[Your full name]
Parent/Guardian of [Child's full name]
[Phone] · [Email] · [Date]

What happens after you send it

  1. The district answers your request and sends consent forms.
  2. You sign. The evaluation clock starts, usually about 60 days in most states.
  3. The school tests, observes, and writes a report — including a functional behavior assessment if behavior is part of the concern.
  4. The team meets to decide if your child qualifies for an IEP. If not, ask about a 504 plan in the same meeting.
  5. If they qualify, the team writes the IEP — and a behavior plan if behavior is getting in the way.

Read next: what an FBA is, what a BIP is, and what a 504 plan is.

Questions parents ask

How do I request an IEP evaluation?

Put the request in writing and email it to the principal and the special education coordinator. Name your child, describe what you are seeing, ask for a full and individual special education evaluation, and ask for written confirmation of the date it was received.

Who can request an IEP evaluation?

A parent or guardian can, and so can a teacher or the school itself. A parent request in writing is the strongest starting point because it starts the legal timeline.

How long does the school have to respond?

States differ, but the district must respond to a written request within a set number of school days, and once you sign consent, most states require the evaluation to be completed within about 60 days. Ask for your state's timeline in writing.

Do I need a diagnosis first?

No. You can request an evaluation without any diagnosis. Outside documentation helps, but the school has its own duty to identify and evaluate students who may need special education.

What if the school says no?

They must give you the refusal in writing with the reason, called prior written notice. That document is what you need to move forward — through a district appeal, mediation, or a due process complaint.

Should I email or hand deliver the letter?

Email creates a timestamp, so email it. If you hand deliver a paper copy too, ask the front office to date-stamp your copy.

Your next step

The letter opens the door. The log gets you the services.

The Behavior Struggle Map gives you the dated incident log, the pattern summary in school language, and the home plan to attach to this request.

Start tonight

122 pieces — the full Behavior Struggle Map

$97$197

122 pieces in 13 kits

  • Tonight's Script — word for word
  • Meltdown Emergency Card (print it now)
  • Behavior Tracker: spot it, stop it, support it, solve it
  • School-ready summary for the teacher or IEP team
  • + 118 more pages, cards and letters
Get 122 pieces for $97 — $197

13 kits · 122 ready-to-print pieces · was $197

What your $97 gets you

Every kit solves one hard part of your day. Nothing to build — open it, print it, use it.

Updated: Teen & Young Adult Tools, Bedtime Battles, and Angry Mornings are included.

  1. Kit 1 · 10 pieces

    Tonight — relief in 10 minutes

  2. Kit 2 · 10 pieces

    Spot the Clue

  3. Kit 3 · 12 pieces

    Daily Rhythm

  4. Kit 4 · 10 pieces

    Calm Tools

  5. Kit 5 · 10 pieces

    School Paper Trail

  6. Kit 6 · 10 pieces

    Meeting Day (IEP / 504)

  7. Kit 7 · 8 pieces

    Track & Prove

  8. Kit 8 · 8 pieces

    Slow Processing & Wait Time

  9. Kit 9 · 12 pieces

    Big Behaviors by Type

  10. Kit 10 · 10 pieces

    Kid-Facing Printables

  11. Kit 11 · 10 pieces

    Teen & Young Adult Tools

  12. Kit 12 · 6 pieces

    Parent Care

  13. Kit 13 · 6 pieces

    Life Disruptions

How you use it

  1. Step 1 — Open tonight's kit: Pick the struggle you are in right now. Read the script out loud. Relief in about 10 minutes.
  2. Step 2 — Print the calm cards: Put them on the fridge and in your bag so anyone with your child knows the same 3 steps.
  3. Step 3 — Log what you saw: One line a day on the log page. In a week you can see the pattern behind the behavior.
  4. Step 4 — Hand the school the plan: Print the school summary and the letter. You walk in with facts, not a story.

How this solves your problem: the yelling and the meltdowns keep repeating because no one has named the clue behind them. The Map names the clue, gives you the words for the moment, and turns what happens at home into the documented plan the school will act on.

Not sure yet? Take the free 60-second quiz and we'll point you to the right one.

Bright Steps provides parent support and educational planning tools only and does not replace professional educational or legal advice.