Many families reach out when they feel their child could benefit from more support. These are some of the concerns that often come up:
An evaluation can provide meaningful insights into how your child learns, and what kinds of support may help them thrive.
I'm Claire McCann, a Licensed Educational Psychologist with over 9 years of experience in school-based settings. I specialize in learning, dyslexia, attention, neurodiversity, and social-emotional development, and I founded Clarity Educational Psychology to help Bay Area families gain a deeper understanding of their child's unique learning profile.
My approach is thorough and warm. I take the time to understand your child as a whole person: their strengths, their challenges, and everything in between.
The process is designed to be straightforward and supportive, for both you and your child.
Wondering if an evaluation could help your child?
Hover to learn more about each evaluation type, or visit our evaluations page for full details.
Many families reach out because something doesn't feel quite right: your child may be struggling in school, feeling frustrated, or not progressing as expected despite effort. Common signs include difficulty with reading or writing, trouble staying focused, social challenges, or a gap between how bright your child seems and how they perform. An evaluation can help bring clarity to these concerns and provide a better understanding of how your child learns.
The process typically begins with a free 30-minute consultation to understand your concerns and your child's history. From there, testing is scheduled over one or more sessions in a supportive, child-friendly environment. Evaluations include standardized measures of cognitive ability, academic skills, and social-emotional functioning, as well as observations, caregiver input, and sometimes teacher input.
You will receive a detailed written report that outlines your child's cognitive strengths, academic skills, and areas of need, along with practical, individualized recommendations for home, school, and outside support. A feedback session is provided to walk through the results and discuss next steps together.
School evaluations are conducted by the district at no cost and focus on eligibility for special education services. Private psychoeducational evaluations are typically more comprehensive, covering a broader range of cognitive, academic, and social-emotional areas. A private evaluation can also provide clinical diagnoses, such as ADHD, dyslexia, or autism, that schools usually do not offer. The report is yours to share with schools, tutors, therapists, or other providers.
Most evaluations involve 6 to 10 hours of direct testing, typically spread across two to three sessions. The full process, from initial consultation through written report delivery and feedback session, usually takes about four to six weeks, depending on scheduling and the complexity of the evaluation.
Yes. Evaluation findings provide detailed, clinically grounded information that supports conversations with your child's school team. The results can be shared as part of the IEP or 504 planning process. While schools determine eligibility, a comprehensive private evaluation can strengthen advocacy and provide clinical diagnoses that help qualify for appropriate accommodations.
Clarity Educational Psychology evaluates children, adolescents, and young adults ages 4 through 22. This includes preschool-age children, elementary and middle school students, high schoolers, and college students.
Fees vary depending on the type and scope of the evaluation. A clear breakdown of costs will be provided during the initial consultation call. Clarity Educational Psychology is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly, but documentation such as a superbill can be provided for families who wish to seek reimbursement through their out-of-network benefits. Families who pay by cash, check, or Zelle receive a discount: $200 off a full psychoeducational evaluation and $20 off IQ testing.
The best preparation is simple: make sure your child gets a good night's sleep, eats a full breakfast, and knows that they'll be doing some activities and puzzles with a friendly adult. There are no right or wrong answers. Testing sessions are designed to be comfortable and even enjoyable. I want to see your child at their best, not their most anxious.
If you disagree with your child's school-based evaluation, you have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation. An IEE is conducted by a qualified professional outside of the school district and can provide a thorough, independent second opinion. In many cases, the school district may be required to fund the IEE at public expense.
