Valencia Educational
Assessments & Consulting
Understanding the Whole Child
Understanding • Clarity • Action
Every Piece Matters
When parents seek an educational assessment, they are looking for answers. They want to know how they can help their child.
While assessments provide valuable information, no single score can fully explain how a child learns.
Every child brings a a unique combination of strengths, challenges, experiences, and personality.
I think of each child’s story as a puzzle. Every piece matters, and only by connecting those pieces can we understand the whole picture.
Families gain a clearer understanding of their child’s learning profile, along with meaningful, practical recommendations to guide future support.
Understanding leads to clarity.
Clarity leads to action.
And action creates opportunities for success.
Want to Learn More?
This mobile page provides a brief introduction to Valencia Educational Assessments & Consulting.
For detailed information about my professional qualifications, educational assessment services, research-informed approach, and assessment process, please visit this same website on a computer or tablet in landscape orientation.
All service fees are clearly listed on the full website.
I welcome your questions and look forward to helping you better understand your child's learning needs.
No single test score tells the whole story of how a student learns.
Research and professional guidance support a comprehensive approach to understanding learning difficulties—one that considers multiple sources of information rather than relying on a single score, test, or formula. Comprehensive assessment may include standardized testing, observations, student and parent reports, educational history, and information about a student’s response to instruction or intervention.
This principle is also reflected in U.S. special-education evaluation standards, which call for the use of a variety of assessment tools and strategies and state that no single measure should be used as the sole basis for determining disability or educational programming.
Academic Skills Are Central
When a student is struggling in school, direct assessment of academic skills provides important information about what the student can do, where difficulties are occurring, and how those difficulties may affect learning.
Standardized academic achievement measures can examine specific areas of reading, written language, and mathematics rather than reducing a student’s performance to a single overall score. Depending on the referral questions, assessment may also consider relevant oral-language and related learning processes.
Research examining approaches to learning-disability identification has found important limitations in methods that depend heavily on cognitive discrepancy patterns. Researchers have therefore emphasized the value of directly assessing academic skills and using academic performance to help identify educational needs and guide intervention.
Looking Beyond a Single Score
Historically, learning disabilities were often identified by looking for a significant discrepancy between a student’s IQ and academic achievement. Research has raised substantial questions about using that discrepancy as the defining feature of a learning disability. Contemporary U.S. special-education regulations do not require an IQ–achievement discrepancy for identification of a specific learning disability.
Similarly, research on approaches that attempt to identify a learning disability through a particular pattern of cognitive processing strengths and weaknesses has found problems with the reliability and consistency of those classifications. Studies have found that different methods or different test batteries can lead to different identification decisions, and some research has found that these cognitive patterns do not meaningfully predict how students respond to academic intervention.
This does not mean that information about cognitive, language, attention, executive, developmental, or other factors is unimportant. Such information can contribute to understanding a student’s broader learning profile and may indicate when evaluation by another professional is appropriate. It does mean that no particular cognitive profile should be treated, by itself, as the explanation for a student’s academic difficulties.
Connecting the Pieces
A student’s academic performance develops within a larger educational and developmental context. For that reason, assessment should consider the information relevant to the individual student, which may include:
• Standardized measures of academic achievement
• Educational history and previous school performance
• Previous evaluations and interventions
• Parent, student, and teacher information when available
• Developmental, medical, hearing, or vision information relevant to learning
• Language and educational background
• Executive-functioning information when appropriate
• Patterns of academic strengths, difficulties, and educational needs
The purpose is not simply to produce test scores. It is to connect the pieces so that parents can better understand what their child is experiencing academically, identify meaningful strengths and challenges, and consider practical educational supports and next steps.
Selected Research & Professional Sources
Benson, N. F., Farmer, R. L., Maki, K. E., & Hajovsky, D. B. (2026). Redefining specific learning disabilities: An attempt to bridge research, policy, and practice through expert consensus. Journal of School Psychology, 116, 101549.
Maki, K. E., Barrett, C. A., Burns, M. K., Hajovsky, D. B., & Stevens, G. (2026). SLD models and assessment data sources: Effects on identification and confidence. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 59(4), 207–221.
Fletcher, J. M., & Miciak, J. (2024). Assessment of specific learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities. Assessment, 31(1), 53–74.
U.S. Department of Education. 34 CFR § 300.304 — Evaluation procedures.
Research-Informed Assessment
Understanding the Whole Child
Understanding • Clarity • Action
Educational Assessment Services
Comprehensive Educational Assessment
For students experiencing academic challenges or whose learning needs are not yet fully understood.
This individualized assessment identifies academic strengths, learning challenges, and educational needs and provides practical recommendations for support at home and at school.
Educational Assessment Review
& Consultation
For families who already have educational, cognitive, or psychological evaluations but need help understanding what the results mean.
Previous reports are reviewed carefully, followed by a consultation explaining the findings, important patterns, educational implications, and recommendations.
Pre-Assessment Consultation
For families who are uncertain whether a comprehensive educational assessment is needed.
This service includes a detailed review of relevant records, a student executive-functioning self-assessment, and a one-hour consultation to clarify concerns and determine appropriate next steps.
Connecting the Pieces
Every service includes a clear, organized summary that brings together the most meaningful information, including:
· Significant strengths
· Areas of concern
· Important patterns
· Educational implications
· Practical recommendations
· Suggested next steps
Understanding your child’s learning profile is the beginning of a plan for moving forward.
Understanding • Clarity • Action
Comprehensive Educational Assessment
A Comprehensive Educational Assessment is designed for students who are experiencing academic challenges or whose learning needs are not yet fully understood. The assessment identifies your child’s academic strengths, learning challenges, and educational needs while providing practical recommendations to support success at home and at school.
Who May Benefit from a Comprehensive Educational Assessment?
This service may be appropriate for students who are experiencing:
Academic difficulties
Reading, writing, or mathematics concerns
Suspected learning disabilities
Dyslexia or other language-based learning differences
Attention or executive functioning concerns
Inconsistent academic performance
Helping Families Move Forward with Confidence
Every assessment is built on the belief that understanding leads to better decisions.
By carefully connecting the many pieces of your child’s learning story, we can develop practical recommendations that help families, educators, and students move forward with confidence.
Not every student who is struggling needs a comprehensive assessment. Families who are unsure may begin with a Pre-Assessment consutation to help determine whether further evaluation is warrented.
Your child's individualized assessment includes:
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Parent Intake Questionnaire and review of relevant records, including report cards, previous evaluations, standardized test results, work samples, teacher information, and available medical, hearing, or vision reports.
-
Student Executive Functioning Skills self-assessment appropriate for the child’s age.
-
Initial one-hour parent consultation to discuss concerns, review background information, and identify the questions the assessment should answer. Students age 12 and older may participate when appropriate.
-
Individualized academic assessment using standardized English-language academic achievement measures selected according to the referral concerns and the student’s individual needs:
Reading — basic reading skills, decoding, reading fluency, reading comprehension,
and phonological and orthographic processing
Mathematics — calculation, problem-solving, and fluency
Written language — written expression and spelling
Oral language and related learning processes — when appropriate
Early learning and school-readiness skills — for younger children, this may include developmentally appropriate measures and observations of early concepts, visual-motor
and fine-motor functioning, and other skills related to classroom learning.
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A comprehensive written report and the Connecting the Pieces summary presented in clear, understandable language that includes assessment results, interpretation of findings, academic strengths, areas of concern, educational recommendations, classroom accommodations when appropriate, strategies to support learning at home, and recommendations for future planning.
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One-hour feedback meeting to review the results, answer your questions, explain the recommendations, and discuss practical next steps. Students age 12 and older may participate when appropriate.
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Up to 30 days of follow-up email support for brief questions related to the assessment and recommendations.
Every family leaves the assessment process with a deeper understanding of their child’s unique learning profile, confidence in the findings, and a clear plan for moving forward.
Comprehensive Educational Assessment
A Comprehensive Educational Assessment is designed for students who are experiencing academic challenges or whose learning needs are not yet fully understood. The assessment identifies your child’s academic strengths, learning challenges, and educational needs while providing practical recommendations to support success at home and at school.
Who May Benefit from a Comprehensive Educational Assessment?
This service may be appropriate for students who are experiencing:
Academic difficulties
Reading, writing, or mathematics concerns
Suspected learning disabilities
Dyslexia or other language-based learning differences
Attention or executive functioning concerns
Inconsistent academic performance
Helping Families Move Forward with Confidence
Every assessment is built on the belief that understanding leads to better decisions.
By carefully connecting the many pieces of your child’s learning story, we can develop practical recommendations that help families, educators, and students move forward with confidence.
Not every student who is struggling needs a comprehensive assessment. Families who are unsure may begin with a Pre-Assessment consutation to help determine whether further evaluation is warrented.
Your child's individualized assessment includes:
-
Parent Intake Questionnaire and review of relevant records, including report cards, previous evaluations, standardized test results, work samples, teacher information, and available medical, hearing, or vision reports.
-
Student Executive Functioning Skills self-assessment appropriate for the child’s age.
-
Initial one-hour parent consultation to discuss concerns, review background information, and identify the questions the assessment should answer. Students age 12 and older may participate when appropriate.
-
Individualized academic assessment using standardized English-language academic achievement measures selected according to the referral concerns and the student’s individual needs:
Reading — basic reading skills, decoding, reading fluency, reading comprehension,
and phonological and orthographic processing
Mathematics — calculation, problem-solving, and fluency
Written language — written expression and spelling
Oral language and related learning processes — when appropriate
Early learning and school-readiness skills — for younger children, this may include developmentally appropriate measures and observations of early concepts, visual-motor
and fine-motor functioning, and other skills related to classroom learning.
-
A comprehensive written report and the Connecting the Pieces summary presented in clear, understandable language that includes assessment results, interpretation of findings, academic strengths, areas of concern, educational recommendations, classroom accommodations when appropriate, strategies to support learning at home, and recommendations for future planning.
-
One-hour feedback meeting to review the results, answer your questions, explain the recommendations, and discuss practical next steps. Students age 12 and older may participate when appropriate.
-
Up to 30 days of follow-up email support for brief questions related to the assessment and recommendations.
Every family leaves the assessment process with a deeper understanding of their child’s unique learning profile, confidence in the findings, and a clear plan for moving forward.
Pre-Assessment Consultation
Designed for families who are uncertain whether a comprehensive educational assessment is needed.
The consultation includes parts 1–3 of the Comprehensive Educational Assessment:
•Parent Intake Questionnaire and review of relevant records, including report cards, previous evaluations, standardized test results, work samples, teacher information, and available medical, hearing, or vision reports.
• Student Executive Functioning Skills self-assessment appropriate for the child's age.
• A 45 minutes parent consultation to discuss concerns, review background information, and identify the questions the assessment should answer. Students age 12 and older may participate when appropriate.
• Connecting the Pieces summary
If your family chooses to proceed with a Comprehensive Educational Assessment, all but €50 of the Pre-Assessment Consultation fee will be credited toward the comprehensive assessment fee.
Expert Assessment Review
& Consultation
Some families already have psychological, cognitive, or educational evaluations but are left wondering what the information actually means.
This service provides:
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Comprehensive review of previous reports to help you understand assessment results, scores, findings, and recommendations.
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Followed by a one-hour consultation in which I will explain the results using understandable language, identify important patterns, and explain what the evaluation means for your child’s education.
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The Connecting the Pieces summary
Assessment Process
Every student and every family is different, so the exact process may vary depending on the service selected. The following provides an overview of what families can generally expect.
1. Initial Contact and Background Information
The process begins with information about your child, your concerns, and the questions you would like addressed. Parents are asked to complete a Parent Intake Questionnaire and provide relevant educational records, previous evaluations, school reports, test results, work samples, and any pertinent developmental or medical information that may help provide a fuller understanding of the student’s learning profile.
An age-appropriate executive functioning self-assessment may also be completed when applicable.
2. Parent Consultation
The information provided is reviewed in advance of a 45 minute parent consultation. The consultation may take place online or in person and provides an opportunity to discuss your child’s history, current concerns, educational experiences, and needs.
For families beginning with a Pre-Assessment Consultation, this meeting helps determine whether additional educational assessment is warranted and what next steps may be most appropriate.
3. Individualized Student Testing
When a Comprehensive Educational Assessment is undertaken, a separate testing appointment is scheduled. Testing is conducted in person at an arranged professional location and typically takes three hours, although the length of the session may vary depending on the individual student and the areas being assessed.
The core academic areas of reading, writing, and mathematics are included in the assessment so that the student’s overall learning profile can be understood. Looking across these areas helps identify not only areas of challenges, but also important strengths and the ways in which a challenge in one area may affect performance in another.
For example, a student who has difficulty reading may demonstrate very different mathematics skills when solving numerical calculations than when working with language-based math problems. Understanding both areas provides a more complete picture of the student’s abilities and educational needs.
Additional academic, oral-language and relatedd learning measures may be selected when appropriate, based on the student's individual needs, background information, and the specific questions being explored.
4. Scoring, Analysis, and Report Preparation
Following testing, results are scored and interpreted and considered together with the student’s educational history, records, parent input, relevant developmental or medical information, and other pertinent background information.
A detailed written report is then prepared that explains the findings, identifies areas of strengths and challenges, and provides individualized recommendations and suggested next steps.
5. Parent Feedback Consultation
A one-hour parent feedback consultation is generally scheduled approximately two weeks after testing. The written report is provided in connection with this meeting so that the findings and recommendations can be reviewed together.
During the consultation, results are explained in clear, practical terms, questions are addressed, and recommendations and next steps are discussed.
If factual corrections or appropriate clarifications are identified following the feedback consultation, these may be incorporated into the final report when appropriate.
When New Testing Is Not Part of the Service
The Pre-Assessment Consultation and Assessment Review & Consultation do not include new standardized student testing. For these services, the process is tailored to the review of background information, records, prior evaluations, pertinent developmental or medical information, and parent concerns, followed by consultation and the written summary appropriate to the service selected.
Understanding • Clarity • Action
Who do you work with?
I work with school-age children and young aduts who are educated primarily in English. Assessments are conducted in English using standardized English-language academic measures appropriate to the student's indvididual needs.
Are assessments conducted in English?
Yes. Assessments are conducted in English using standardized English-language academic measures. This service is designed primarily for students who are educated in English and whose academic skills can be appropriately evaluated using English-language instruments.
What is a Comprehensive Educational Assessment?
A Comprehensive Educational Assessment evaluates your child’s academic skills, identifies strengths and learning challenges, and provides practical recommendations to support success at home and at school.
How do I know which service is right for my child?
If you are unsure whether your child needs a comprehensive assessment, a Pre-Assessment
Consultation can help clarify your concerns and determine whether further evaluation may be appropriate.
If your child would benefit from individualized testing to better understand academic strengths and challenges, a Comprehensive Educational Assessment may be appropriate.
If you already have educational, cognitive, psychological, or other relevant evaluations and would like help understanding how the findings fit together, an Assessment Review & Consultation may be the better choice.
What ages do you work with?
I work with school-age children and young adults. If you have questions about whether my services are appropriate for your child, please contact me.
What should I bring?
Depending on your child’s situation, helpful information may include:
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Previous evaluations
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Report cards
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School records
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Individualized education plans, if applicable
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Teacher reports
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Relevant medical information
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Samples of schoolwork
You will receive a list of recommended documents to send me prior to your initial consultation.
How long does the assessment process take?
The timeline depends on your child’s individual needs and the scope of the evaluation. Student testing for a Comprehensive Educational Assessment typically takes approximately 2½–3 hours, although the length of the session may vary depending on the individual student and the areas being assessed. During your initial consultation, I will explain the anticipated schedule and answer any questions about the process.
Will I receive a written report?
Yes.
Every Comprehensive Educational Assessment includes a detailed written report explaining the assessment findings, interpretation, and individualized recommendations.
The Assessment Review & Consultation includes the Connecting the Pieces Summary.
What happens after the assessment?
We will meet for a one-hour feedback session to review the findings, answer your questions, discuss recommendations, and identify practical next steps.
Will my child’s school accept the report?
Independent educational assessments can provide schools with valuable information about a student's academic strengths, learning challenges, and educational needs. The report can be shared with your child's school to help inform educational planning, support decisions, or consideration of additional evaluation. Policies and procedures vary among schools and educational systems, so families with specific questions about how an outside evaluation will be used are encouraged to discuss this directly with their school.
Is everything confidential?
Yes.
Your family’s privacy is important. Information is shared only with your written permission or as required by law.
Can you review evaluations completed by other professionals?
Yes.
One of my services is specifically designed to review previous educational, cognitive, and psychological evaluations to help families better understand the findings and recommendations.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Appointments are scheduled through the Book a Service page on the website. If you are unsure which service is right for your child, you may first contact me by email, WhatsApp, or through the Contact form with a brief description of your concerns. I can then help you determine the most appropriate next step before you book.
Still Have Questions?
If you are unsure which service is right for your child, start by completing the Contact form with a brief description of your concerns. I will respond by email to help determine whether my services may be appropriate and what the next step might be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding • Clarity • Action
Fees and Payment Information
Pre-Assessment Consultation — €200 + IVA
Includes completion and review of a Parent Intake Questionnaire, review of relevant records and background information, an age-appropriate executive functioning self-assessment when applicable, a one-hour parent consultation, and a brief written summary of conclusions and recommended next steps. €100 deposit required. The remaining balance is due according to the terms of the Parent Service Agreement.
Comprehensive Educational Assessment — €800 + IVA
Includes parent intake and records review, an age-appropriate executive functioning self-assessment when applicable, individualized standardized testing, scoring and interpretation, a detailed written report with recommendations, and a one-hour parent feedback consultation. €200 initial deposit; remaining payments according to the terms of the Parent Service Agreement.
Assessment Review & Consultation — €225 + IVA
Includes review of one substantive prior evaluation and relevant supporting records, a Connecting the Pieces Summary, and a one-hour parent consultation. Additional substantive evaluations are €75 + IVA each. €150 deposit required. The remaining balance is due according to the terms of the Parent Service Agreement.
Families who complete a Pre-Assessment Consultation and proceed with a Comprehensive Educational Assessment within 30 days receive a €150 credit toward the final Comprehensive Assessment payment.
Understanding • Clarity • Action
Contact Valencia Educational Assessments
Not sure which service is right for your family? Start here. Complete the form below with a brief description of your concerns. I will respond by email to help determine whether my services may be appropriate and what the next step might be.
Every child's learning story is unique. Every piece matters.