How to Request a Preschool Evaluation From Your Florida School District (Sample Letter)

If your child is 3 or 4 and you think they may need special education, you do not have to wait for a teacher, a doctor or Early Steps to start the process. Florida's evaluation rule lets a parent ask the school district directly. A short written request creates a dated record, and dates matter: the district has 30 days to respond, and once you sign consent, it has 60 calendar days to finish the evaluation. This guide explains the rules and gives you a sample letter you can adapt.

Can I ask the school district to evaluate my preschooler?

Yes. Rule 6A-6.0331(3), Florida Administrative Code, says: "Either a parent of a kindergarten through grade 12 student or child age three (3) to kindergarten entry age, or a school district may initiate a request for initial evaluation to determine if the student is a student with a disability."

That opening sentence covers any "child age three (3) to kindergarten entry age." Ask the district where you live. Preschoolers also skip the general education intervention steps (often called MTSS or RtI) that apply to older students. For children not yet in kindergarten, the rule instead requires a review of existing social, psychological and medical data and "Vision and hearing screenings ... for the purpose of ruling out sensory deficits" (Rule 6A-6.0331(2)).

If your child is still under 3, the path is different: refer to Early Steps first. See our turning 3 checklist for how Early Steps hands off to the district.

How fast does the district have to respond?

Rule 6A-6.0331(3)(c) says that if a parent requests an evaluation, "the school district must within thirty (30) days, unless the parent and the school agree otherwise in writing:

1. Obtain consent for the evaluation; or
2. Provide the parent with written notice in accordance with Rule 6A-6.03311, F.A.C., explaining its refusal to conduct the evaluation."

The rule says 30 days, not 30 school days. Two practical points:

• The rule ties a parent request to "documentation or evidence" that the child may be a child with a disability (Rule 6A-6.0331(3)(a)4.). That is why the sample letter below describes what you see and lists any reports you have. The wording of that subparagraph also mentions children enrolled in a district-operated preschool program; if your district tells you the 30-day rule does not apply to your child, ask for that answer in writing and contact your district's ESE office or FDLRS center.
• If the district says no, it must explain why in a written notice. A refusal is not the end; it is a decision you can challenge through Florida's dispute options, such as mediation or a due process hearing.

What happens after I sign consent?

Rule 6A-6.0331(3)(g): "The school district shall ensure that initial evaluations of students and preschool age children age three (3) through kindergarten entry age suspected of having a disability are completed within sixty (60) calendar days after the school district's receipt of parent consent for evaluation."

Some days do not count toward the 60, including school holidays and Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks, the summer vacation period (though the district may still evaluate in summer), days when the child is absent for more than 8 school days in the 60-day period, and certain Governor-ordered emergency closures. By written agreement made before the 45th day and after formal testing has begun, you and the district can extend the deadline by up to 30 calendar days. Our article on the 60-calendar-day evaluation rule covers the excluded days in detail.

Signing consent to evaluate is not consent to services. Rule 6A-6.0331(4)(b) says consent for an initial evaluation "must not be construed as consent for initial provision of ESE." You decide separately about services later.

Sample letter: request for a preschool evaluation

Send this to your school district's Exceptional Student Education (ESE) office or the district's preschool evaluation contact. Keep a copy, and send it in a way that gives you a date: email with a saved copy, hand delivery with a date-stamped copy, or certified mail. Change the bracketed parts. This is a template, not legal advice.

[Date]

To: [School district name], Exceptional Student Education / Preschool Evaluation

Re: Request for initial evaluation for [child's full name], date of birth [date]

I am the parent of [child's name], age [age], who lives at [address] in [county]. I am writing to request a full and individual initial evaluation to determine whether [child's name] is a child with a disability who needs special education and related services, under Rule 6A-6.0331, F.A.C.

My concerns are: [for example: uses few words and does not combine words; does not respond to name; plays alone and becomes very upset with changes in routine; delays in feeding, toileting or motor skills].

[Optional: My child was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder on [date] by [name and credential]. / My child was served by Early Steps until [date]. / My child was screened by FDLRS on [date].] I have attached [list reports]. I give permission for the district to contact [name of doctor or therapist] about these concerns once I sign a release.

Please send me the consent for evaluation form, or written notice if the district refuses, within 30 days as Rule 6A-6.0331(3)(c) requires. I also ask the district to consider the attached outside reports.

You can reach me at [phone] or [email]. My preferred language for meetings and documents is [language].

Sincerely,
[Your name and signature]

What to attach

• Any diagnostic report (autism evaluation, developmental pediatrician, psychologist).
• Early Steps records: the latest IFSP and recent evaluations.
• Reports from private speech, ABA or other therapists, including current goals and data.
• Hearing and vision results if you have them.
• A short list of examples from daily life, with dates.

If your child already has a medical autism diagnosis, the school still runs its own evaluation. A medical diagnosis and school eligibility are different decisions; see Florida ESE autism eligibility.

Is FDLRS a faster first step?

It can be. The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) runs Child Find screening for children 3 to 5. Under Rule 6A-6.0331(3)(a)3., when a child in that age range "receives a developmental screening through the school district or the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource Center" and a disability is suspected, the district must seek consent to evaluate, and Rule 6A-6.0331(3)(b) gives it 30 days to request that consent. You can ask for a screening and send the letter above at the same time.

Numbers come from the FDLRS associate center directory; confirm before calling. More detail is in our guide to FDLRS and Child Find.

What if I disagree with the district's evaluation?

You will be invited to the eligibility meeting as an equal member of the group, and the district must give you a copy of the evaluation report and eligibility paperwork at no cost (Rule 6A-6.0331(6)(a)). If you disagree with the evaluation, Florida's procedural safeguards rule gives you the right to ask for an independent educational evaluation at public expense. Read more in independent educational evaluations in Florida.

How Hope Center can help while you wait

A school evaluation decides school services. It does not decide whether your child can start ABA through health insurance, which usually needs an autism or Down syndrome diagnosis. Hope Center's clinical director offers diagnostic evaluations with a supervising licensed psychologist (our BCBAs do not diagnose), and our staff can join IEP meetings where the school allows it. The diagnostic report is usually ready within about a week once parents finish all the questionnaires. We have no waitlist, and we offer a free benefits check for Florida Blue, Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East plans, plus self-pay with a sliding scale. Contact us or call 561-337-8865 to talk through next steps.