Assessment Services Overview

Diagnostic Center North (DCN) provides individualized student assessments and educational planning services to answer complex special education questions. Each assessment is a carefully planned, dynamic process that is designed to provide local educational agencies (LEAs) specialized intervention strategies and supports.

The diagnostic questions, coupled with the student's profile, guide the planning, implementation and location of the assessment. The assessments are conducted at the school site and/or at DCN in Fremont, CA.

Following the assessment, the DCN team will meet with the family and district virtually, to review assessment findings and recommendations. A comprehensive assessment report detailing the findings and recommendations will also be provided at the meeting.

There is no cost for our services; however, requests for assessment services must be generated by the local school district.

What to Expect

Center Assessments

Center Assessments are for students who have highly complex behavioral and/or learning profiles, and for whom there may be diagnostic challenges that cannot be addressed through local resources. The assessment is conducted primarily at the Diagnostic Center and employs a transdisciplinary team to assist the school in answering educationally-related diagnostic questions. The assessment team may include an educational specialist, psychologist, and speech and language specialist, and/or pediatrician. Other specialists, such as assistive technology, audiology, or psychiatry consultants are also available as appropriate. The assessment typically requires two to three days to complete and includes an observation of the student at the school site. Approximately 5 weeks following the Center assessment, the Diagnostic Center team will meet with the family and district to review assessment findings and recommendations. A comprehensive assessment report will be provided at the meeting.

A parent/guardian is required to accompany the student for the entire assessment. Both parents and/or guardians are encouraged to attend, but we require at least one parent or guardian to attend the entire assessment. Parents have many opportunities to observe test sessions and talk with individual team members. Since parents will be actively involved with the assessment process, we request that parents not bring other minor children. Lodging and meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are provided for families who live 50 miles or more away. Families who live closer than 50 miles commute daily and are provided lunch.

Field-Based Assessments

An assessment conducted solely at the student's school is called a Field-Based Assessment. This assessment service generally pertains to those students whose diagnostic questions are limited to fewer disciplines and/or can best be answered by conducting the entire assessment in the student's learning environment. Team composition will be based on the diagnostic questions submitted in the referral. These assessments are typically completed in one to three days depending upon the diagnostic questions. Local school personnel and the family are involved in the assessment planning and process. Approximately 3-5 weeks following the field assessment, the Diagnostic Center team will meet with the family and district to review their assessment findings and recommendations. A comprehensive assessment report will be provided at the meeting.