Learning Services
Evaluations
Assessing Strengths, Identifying Challenges & Needs, Supporting Success
Learning evaluations provide understanding and guidance to people of all ages—from those struggling with academic, behavioral, and communication challenges to gifted individuals and others curious about how their minds work. Through comprehensive and flexible testing that illuminates how each of us learns, and reports that detail each individual’s unique profile, our team of experts supports learners and families, empowering advocacy and fostering success.
What is a Learning Evaluation?
Conducted by experienced and insightful clinicians, evaluations explore how someone learns. They’re helpful for anyone with or without a learning disability. By shedding light on an individual’s strengths and difficulties, evaluations provide the data you need to advocate for yourself or your child. They’ll help you determine effective tutoring and instruction methods, treatment and therapy, need for special services or gifted programs, accommodations for the workplace or high-stakes testing, and more.
What Are the Benefits of a Psychoeducational Evaluation?
Evaluations are essential in diagnosing differences in academic, cognitive, and social-emotional abilities. They provide a full profile of an individual’s strengths and needs and help people access the tools and strategies necessary to move forward in school, work, and life. Too often, evaluations are not performed until someone falls behind at school or on the job. By figuring out how you or your child learns, you will be better equipped to make informed decisions.
What is the Evaluation Process?
Initial Contact
Our team will ask about you or your child, document all areas of concern and interest, explain our process, share cost ranges, and explain financial assistance options.
Pre-Evaluation Conference
After your evaluator has all the preliminary information they need, they’ll meet with you online to review background info, answer questions, and clarify any areas of concern.
Evaluation
You’ll visit us at the Stern Center for your evaluation. Evaluations may last for a few hours or a few sessions, depending on many factors such as age, stamina, the referral questions, the type of evaluation, and need.
Written Report
In six weeks, your comprehensive written report will provide test result data and recommendations for moving forward. We’ll meet with you to discuss the results and answer your questions.
What Learners Have to Say
Getting Started
Types of Evaluations
The scope of the evaluation is determined by the Stern Center’s Program Director based on a review of the referral concerns, background history, and additional materials. Evaluations may focus on a single issue or they may address a variety of concerns. In some cases, specialists from different disciplines work together as a team to fully understand an individual’s profile. For example, a clinical psychologist might partner with a speech and language pathologist to determine emotional difficulties, diagnose language differences, and identify a wide range of effective treatment options.
Academic Evaluation
Academic evaluations document achievement in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and/or math. They provide information on student performance in school, whether students are gifted, typical, or in need of support. They also screen for weaknesses in underlying skills that affect academic achievement.
Autism Evaluation
Children and adults on the autism spectrum often have unique abilities and challenges. Our testing for autism typically includes a comprehensive review of medical, family, and developmental history, caregiver reports of functioning across settings and the observation of social communicative behavior. Standardized assessments of intellectual functioning, social relatedness, adaptive behaviors, and speech-language functioning are also included. Attention, mood, or other aspects of mental health are examined as needed. Our assessments usually include standardized tests, such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition and Autism Diagnostic Interview.
Behavior Support Evaluation
Behavior support aims to identify underlying behavioral concerns that may impact a child’s school performance. These evaluations are individualized, and they may include observations, consultation with school personnel and parents, as well as testing. They do not involve diagnosis of underlying mental health concerns but instead offer recommendations for behavior support and suggestions related to monitoring and evaluating progress.
Psychoeducational
Evaluation
Psychoeducational evaluations assess student strengths and needs related to academic achievement, including cognitive abilities, language, reading, writing, and math, gifted assessments, as well as attention and executive function. They are essential for diagnosing differences in learning, documenting student achievement, planning an effective instructional program, and monitoring a student’s progress. Psychoeducational testing provides educational recommendations that are individualized, research-based, and effective. Often these evaluations include testing for ADHD, dyslexia, and/or dysgraphia.
For adults, comprehensive assessments can help them overcome learning difficulties on the job, in college, or in demanding careers. They can also prepare individuals for high-stakes graduate school exams through evaluations for LSAT or MCAT accommodations.
Neuropsychological Testing
Most children and adults who have neuropsychological evaluations have had a change in academic or everyday functioning due to impacts on brain function from one or many factors (e.g., medical conditions such as brain injury, seizures/epilepsy, brain tumor, leukemia, chemotherapy/radiation, stroke, prematurity/low birth weight, genetic syndromes, developmental delays, or birth trauma). Neuropsychological evaluations provide a global assessment of brain function related to attention, memory, language, sensory/motor, executive functioning, behavioral, social, and thinking skills. Results help refine medical intervention and/or the robustness of behavioral, educational, and social programming. They also monitor and inform return-to-learn and return-to-play for athletes.
Psychological Evaluation
These evaluations assess mental health, emotional, and social functioning. The results help answer questions as to whether attention, self-esteem, anxiety and/or impulse control may be affecting learning or quality of life.
Social Cognition Evaluation
Through a combination of formal and informal measures, we can better understand an individual’s ability to interpret and use social pragmatic communication. We explore aspects of nonverbal language that support social communication (e.g., understanding/use of gesture, tone of voice, etc.), as well as higher-level language often used in social interactions (e.g., sarcasm, irony, figurative language). Additionally, we examine an individual’s perspective taking skills (theory of mind), and ability to ask and answer questions in a variety of different contexts. Social-pragmatic evaluations are helpful when family members or teachers are concerned about social interaction skills and relationship development.
Speech and Language Evaluation
Speech and language skills are the foundation for academic achievement and social interaction. These evaluations provide a comprehensive assessment of oral language skills. Evaluations focus on aspects of expressive and receptive language, as well as articulation, voice, and fluency.
Our Reach by the Numbers
2,250+
Teachers Served Every Year
When a teacher takes one of our courses, the positive impact ripples beyond one life, spreading through an entire classroom, school, and community.
Our Reach by the Numbers
13,891+
Student Services Hours This Year
We offer one-on-one teaching that transforms lives, lifts up voices, and inspires learners to bring forth their unique gifts to a world that awaits them.
Our Reach by the Numbers
94%
of Vermont School Districts Served
We celebrate the dedication of our school partners and share their commitment to a brighter future for all learners.
Our Reach by the Numbers
37
States and Counting
We’re a national leader in language and literacy. Our impact currently extends across 37 states and 9 countries through the thousands of educators we reach and students we serve.
Supporting Learners
Financial Assistance
Our need-based scholarships make Stern Center services more accessible to learners and families. Assistance is based on income and the number of people in your family.
Meet Our Team
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up a payment plan?
We’ll provide you with a contract and invoice which can be paid in full by our deadline or managed through a payment plan that spreads the cost of services over several months.
Are there other sources of financial assistance?
There are other sources that may assist with the financing of Stern Center Services. These include your school or school district, employer, Hireability Vermont, VSAC, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, health insurance provider, and others. Please note, we are not an insurance provider and do not bill insurance.
Do you accept insurance?
The Stern Center is not an insurance provider and cannot provide information explicitly for the purpose of insurance billing.
How do I apply for financial assistance?
Contact us to register for services and let us know you are interested in applying for financial assistance. We’ll ask you to complete a short application, which our team will review to determine the amount of financial assistance we can offer. After reviewing your application, we’ll notify you of our decision within a few days and apply your award directly as a need-based assistance discount.
Does the Stern Center offer financial assistance?
Yes. Through the generosity of individuals, organizations, and foundations, we can award need-based funds and provide additional assistance. Awards are based on income and the number of people in your family. Depending on family eligibility, costs may be reduced by 20–70%. Please review our Financial Assistance page and let us know if you want to apply for financial assistance when you register for services.
Who will conduct an evaluation?
There are many different kinds of specialists who perform evaluations, including clinical psychologists, school psychologists, neuropsychologists, and speech-language pathologists. Someone who relates well to the client and can communicate effectively with others, including parents and teachers, is a must. After completing the evaluation, your report will integrate all of the findings so that diagnosis and recommendations are cohesive and coordinated.
How long does a learning evaluation take?
Evaluations vary from a few hours to a full day depending on the referral questions, the type of evaluation, and/or the stamina of the client. In some cases, we ask clients to return for additional test sessions. Some clients benefit from more breaks and shorter sessions. Your evaluator will discuss the specifics of your evaluation with you.
When should a learning evaluation be done?
Evaluations should be done at the first signs of significant challenge or struggle in school, work, or social settings. Often, evaluations are not performed until someone falls behind academically, professionally, or socially. Understanding how an individual learns is essential so parents and professionals can plan effective interventions, strengthen self-esteem, and promote success.
Why do we conduct learning evaluations?
We conduct learning evaluations to find out how a student learns in order to identify a learning profile, monitor progress, create individualized instruction plans, and determine whether special services are needed.
How long does an evaluation take?
When should an evaluation be done?
Additional Support
Tutoring Services
We offer expert instruction and intervention in reading, writing, math, and more in one-to-one sessions tailored to a learner’s needs.
Social Learning
We teach strategies for communicating effectively, building social relationships,
and understanding thoughts
and actions.
Reading Readiness Check-Up
For parents curious about their child’s early reading skills, we offer a helpful check-up and expert advice for raising strong readers.
Keep Learning
A Handbook for Parents
Our Director of Evaluations co-authored a book that demystifies the assessment process and makes it less intimidating.
Summer Learning
Supercharge your child’s learning this summer. Get expert help with reading, writing, math, and more.
News and Resources
Keep learning and stay in the know with news and resources from our Stern Center experts.
