Child Evaluation & Service Center

Evaluation Service Menu

The Child Evaluation and Service Center at Clackamas ESD provides a variety of evaluation services for students attending Clackamas County schools. Referrals are initiated by school district staff. Our services include the following:

Comprehensive (Full) team evaluations:

These evaluations can include measures of general intelligence (IQ), specific cognitive abilities, academic skill levels, social-emotional and behavioral functioning, and a speech-language assessment. Our school psychologists and clinical psychologists are assigned to cases depending upon the nature of the evaluation questions. The evaluation takes place at the ESD. Each evaluation includes a conference with school staff and parents at the ESD, one week following the evaluation, and a written report. Complete and send in the comprehensive referral packet via courier to Karen Waverly at the ESD.

The full referral packet consists of ESD forms 100, 100 A-1, 100 A-2, a district permission to evaluate form (signed by parents), parent Case History, and both Parent and Teacher Achenbachs.

ELL evaluations:

These evaluations include measures of non-verbal intelligence, native language proficiency, a speech-language assessment, academic skill levels, and social-emotional and behavioral functioning (if indicated). We have on staff both a Spanish and a Russian translator/interpreter. We can make arrangements to conduct assessments involving other languages. Testing takes place at the ESD. The evaluation includes a conference with school staff and parents at the ESD, one week following the evaluation, and a written report. Complete and send in the comprehensive referral packet to Karen Waverly, as above. In addition to the standard forms, we ask that you submit an ESD ELL Pre-Referral form or your district’s Pre-Referral documentation packet.

Academic-only evaluations:

The academic-only evaluations are intended primarily for three-year special education re-evaluation data collection. They are not intended for initial or complex evaluations which generally are better served by a team evaluation process, including a conference and report. These evaluations occur at the student's school. Test results and protocols are sent to the person who requested testing, generally the next day. No report or conference is included with the academic-only evaluations; however, we are happy to consult with the learning specialist who works with the student being tested. These evaluations are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and can be scheduled via a phone call to your district’s assigned evaluation specialist. The person initiating the referral should then complete and send the short referral packet, plus a signed district permission to test form, once the evaluation specialist has confirmed the date. A short referral packet includes forms 100, 100A-1, and 100A-2, along with parent permission.

I.Q.-only evaluations:

As with the academic-only evaluations, the IQ-only evaluations are intended primarily for special education three-year re-evaluation data collection. They are not intended for initial or complex evaluations which are generally better served by a team evaluation process. These evaluations occur at the student's school. The person initiating the referral should complete and send the short referral packet, plus a signed district permission to test form, to Karen Waverly via courier. Upon receipt of the referral packet, one of our two school psychologists will contact you to schedule the assessment. A summary report is generated following the assessment, and a copy sent to the referring person, usually within one week.

Early Childhood Transition Evaluations:

The purpose of these evaluations is to help school teams determine school-age eligibility for children transitioning from early childhood services to kindergarten. These evaluations are for students who DO NOT ALREADY have a school-age eligibility that will carry over (e.g. communication, mental retardation, autism, other health impaired, etc.). Typical referrals are for students currently served through Early Childhood as developmentally delayed. These evaluations take place at the ESD. There is a conference one week following the evaluation with the parent and school. A short referral packet, plus a current case history, should be completed and sent to Karen Waverly via courier.

Behavior Support Services:

Our Behavior Support Specialist, Billie Jo Rodriguez, assists districts with implementation of evidence-based behavior support and intervention strategies for students. Services include training teams and individuals in conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA's) and writing Behavior Support Plans (BSP's). Districts may request assistance for individual students with behavioral challenges, such as those who are in need of targeted and/or intensive interventions ("yellow zone" and "red zone"). Assistance with methods of data collection and progress monitoring for the effectiveness of behavior interventions is also available. For questions, email Billie Jo Rodriguez at brodriguez@clackesd.k12.or.us or phone at 541-653-4183. For detailed information on how to access services, please review the ESD Intensive Behavior Support Services.

Services we cannot provide include the following:

• Disability, eligibility, and placement determinations. It is the IEP team’s role to make these determinations. We therefore cannot answer questions about whether or not a student has a specific disability. We also cannot offer opinions about whether or not a student is eligible for special education services, or might need a particular program or setting to make progress.

• We cannot make DSM-IV diagnoses, so are unable to answer questions about whether or not a student meets DSM-IV criteria for clinical depression, an anxiety disorder, attention deficit disorder, or mental illness. If requested, the evaluation will provide descriptive data on observable, measurable symptoms and behaviors that may be commonly associated with these conditions.

• We do not evaluate students suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). If you are concerned that a student might have ASD, please refer the student for an evaluation through your district’s Columbia Regional Services Autism Specialist. Call CRC at (503) 916-5570.

For information on the referral process and required paperwork, please refer to the Referral Process information on our website.