The parents/guardians of a third-grade student who was recently diagnosed with ADHD by a pediatrician have requested a Full and Individual Initial Evaluation (FIIE). Which action would be most appropriate for the educational diagnostician to take in the evaluation process?

• A. obtaining written consent from the parents/guardians to request records and evaluation data from the physician
• B. proceeding with the evaluation without consent
• C. refusing to evaluate ADHD
• D. conducting only classroom observations

Answer: (A)

When evaluating a student for special education, you must have informed written consent from the parents before gathering external information, including medical records or records from a physician. Because the parents asked for a Full and Individual Initial Evaluation, the most appropriate first step is to obtain their written permission to request records and evaluation data from the physician. This ensures you can access relevant medical information that may affect educational performance while honoring families’ rights and maintaining confidentiality.

Trying to proceed without consent would violate legal and ethical requirements, since outside medical information cannot be collected without parental authorization. Refusing to evaluate ADHD would ignore a potential condition that could impact learning, and limiting data collection to classroom observations would provide an incomplete picture; a comprehensive initial evaluation requires data from multiple sources, including medical and behavioral information, to determine eligibility and needed supports.