What if the child study team, parents, and teachers disagree?

I am a former New Jersey school psychologist, and a practicing child and adolescent psychologist and trainer. Child Study Team members can be very skillful and motivated to help, but their mission is somewhat limited: They specifically assess for the presence or absence of educational disabilities defined by law and by state regulation. The diagnosis of a disability defined by law and regulation determines special education eligibility.

This mission limits the types of assessment tools used and conclusions the team can draw: They are assessing for special education disability, not a broad range of possible problems kids can face.

Private practice psychologists, and especially school or clinical neuropsychologists, have a different mission. They try to explain why the children they evaluate have trouble in school and then they try to recommend possible solutions, whether or not this translates to special education eligibility. The best psychologists will work with your school district's team and administrators as collaborators and advocates.

To find private psychologists who can provide assessments, you can ask other parents, your child's family doctor or look at sites like the American Board of School Neuropsychology.

In terms of costs, New Jersey special education regulations mandate that schools pay for independent evaluations in some circumstances. Whether or not the school pays, they must "consider" the results.

Good luck with your advocacy of your child. Keep up the good work!