Key takeaways
- A school evaluation decides whether your child qualifies for special education or a 504 plan. It is free, and you can ask for one in writing at any time.
- A medical evaluation decides whether your child has ADHD or something else, and what treatment could help. Schools do not prescribe; clinicians do.
- In Arizona, a school has up to 15 school days to respond to a parent's written request, and 60 calendar days after your consent to finish the evaluation.
- Neither evaluation has to come first. Many families start both at once and, with permission, share the results.
- Good grades do not rule out a disability under Section 504, and quiet, inattentive children are the ones most often missed.
If your child's teacher has raised attention or behavior concerns, there are two kinds of evaluation you can ask for, and they answer different questions. A school evaluation decides whether your child is eligible for special education or a Section 504 plan at school, and it costs you nothing. A medical (clinical) ADHD evaluation decides whether your child has ADHD, something else, or both, and what treatment might help. In Arizona you can request either one without the other, and many families start both at the same time.
School evaluation vs. medical evaluation: what is the difference?
| School evaluation (IEP or 504) | Medical ADHD evaluation | |
|---|---|---|
| The question it answers | Does my child need special education, a 504 plan or other help at school? | Is this ADHD, something else, or more than one thing, and what treatment fits? |
| Who does it | The school's team: school psychologist, teachers and other staff | A pediatrician, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, a psychiatrist or a psychologist |
| Cost to you | Free | Your insurance plan or self-pay |
| Gives a diagnosis | It decides eligibility for school services, which is not the same as a medical diagnosis | Yes, when the picture is clear |
| Treatment | Classroom supports, accommodations, special education services | Behavior strategies, coordination with school and, when appropriate, medication |
| How to start | A dated, written request to the principal or special education director | Call, text or email a clinician; usually no referral is needed |
The CDC notes that ADHD has no single test. A diagnosis takes several steps, including input from parents, teachers and other caregivers, a check for other conditions that could explain the symptoms, and a medical exam with hearing and vision tests (CDC (opens in a new tab)). A school evaluation gathers some of the same information for a different purpose: deciding what your child needs in the classroom.
How to ask an Arizona school for an evaluation
Schools have a duty, sometimes called Child Find, to identify and evaluate students who may have a disability. You do not have to wait for the school to bring it up. The CDC points out that families of children 3 and older can contact their public school system for a free evaluation (CDC (opens in a new tab)). Charter schools in Arizona are public schools and have the same obligations.
Step 1: Put it in writing
Send a short, dated letter or email to the principal and the special education director: your child's name, grade, what you are seeing, and that you are requesting a full evaluation. Keep a copy.
Step 2: Watch the 15-school-day window
Arizona rules give the school a reasonable time, not more than 15 school days from your written request, to either start the evaluation by reviewing existing information or give you written notice that it is refusing (Arizona Department of Education (opens in a new tab)).
Step 3: Sign consent
The evaluation cannot start until you give written consent. Your signature starts the next clock.
Step 4: 60 calendar days to finish
The school has 60 calendar days from receiving your consent to complete the evaluation and decide eligibility. School breaks count toward the 60 days, and an extension of up to 30 days needs both your and the school's written agreement (Arizona Department of Education (opens in a new tab)).
Step 5: The plan
If your child qualifies for special education, the team generally has 30 days to write the IEP. If not, ask whether a Section 504 plan fits.
Federal rules set the same 60-day frame for an initial evaluation unless a state sets its own (IDEA, 34 CFR 300.301 (opens in a new tab)). If deadlines slip, write to the school again and note the dates; the Arizona Department of Education's Exceptional Student Services division handles complaints.
A 504 plan when special education is not needed
Many children with ADHD do not need special education but do need changes at school, such as extra time, a quieter testing space, movement breaks or check-ins. Those can come through a Section 504 plan. The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights says parents can ask the school to evaluate a child who may need services because of ADHD, and that a school's intervention programs must not be used to delay or deny that evaluation (U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (opens in a new tab)).
Two points in the same guidance surprise many parents. Students who earn good grades may still have a disability under Section 504, because ADHD can mean the work takes far more effort or time. And children with the inattentive type of ADHD are less likely to be noticed, since they are less likely to be disruptive in class.
What a medical ADHD evaluation includes
The American Academy of Pediatrics guideline for children and teens 4 to 18 says a diagnosis should confirm that the standard diagnostic criteria are met, with symptoms and impairment documented in more than one major setting, mainly from reports by parents or guardians, teachers and other school staff. It also calls for screening for other conditions, such as anxiety, depression, learning problems and sleep or physical health issues, which can look like ADHD or come with it (AAP guideline, Pediatrics 2019 (opens in a new tab)).
In practice that means a long conversation with you and your child, validated rating scales from home and school, a look at sleep, mood, anxiety and health, and a plan explained in plain language. NIMH notes that symptoms must start before age 12 and show up in more than one setting, such as home and school (NIMH (opens in a new tab)). An evaluation may confirm ADHD, point somewhere else, or show that more than one thing is going on. The ADHD evaluation page describes how a Better Place Now evaluation works.
Do you need a doctor's diagnosis to get a 504 plan or an IEP?
No. You can ask the school to evaluate without a diagnosis in hand, and a diagnosis on its own does not decide eligibility: the school team does. A clinician's report can still help, because it describes what was found and what might help at school. The Office for Civil Rights guidance adds that if a school decides a medical assessment is needed to complete its own Section 504 evaluation, parents cannot be required to pay for it (U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (opens in a new tab)).
Which should you do first?
- Struggling mostly at school (grades slipping, work not finished, notes home): send the written school request now, since the school's clocks start with your letter.
- Struggles at home too, or worries about sleep, mood, anxiety or a recent change: book a medical evaluation as well. Other problems can look like ADHD, and some are treatable on their own; see physical causes that can look like ADHD.
- You want to talk about treatment options, including whether medication makes sense: only a clinician can do that.
- Already have a diagnosis but no help at school: share the report with the school and ask for a 504 evaluation.
Doing both at once is common and saves time. With your written permission, the clinician and the school can share what they found, so neither starts from zero.
What to bring to your child's ADHD evaluation
- Report cards and teacher comments, including from earlier grades if you have them.
- Any school evaluation report, IEP or 504 plan.
- Rating scales completed by a teacher, if the clinician sends them ahead.
- Your child's pediatrician's name, the date of the last hearing and vision check, and any recent lab work.
- A list of medications, supplements and caffeine, and a few notes on sleep: bedtime, wake time, snoring, screens at night.
- Two or three real examples from the past month, at home and at school.
Getting a child evaluated in Phoenix and across Arizona
Better Place Now evaluates children 6 and up and teens by secure video anywhere in Arizona, or in person in the Phoenix area by arrangement. The first visit is a full 60 minutes with Dr. Justin Schwarting, DNP, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, and a parent or guardian is part of every visit. With your written permission, care is coordinated with your child's pediatrician, therapist or school. More on child and teen care.
AHCCCS members of Banner-University Family Care and the American Indian Health Program pay $0 (AHCCCS care). Most other families use insurance; self-pay is $220 for the 60-minute evaluation. No referral is needed, same-week openings are available, and scheduling asks for no health details.
Common questions
Can an Arizona school diagnose my child with ADHD?
A school evaluation decides whether your child qualifies for special education or a Section 504 plan; it is not a medical diagnosis. A medical ADHD evaluation by a pediatrician, psychiatric nurse practitioner, psychiatrist or psychologist decides whether ADHD is present.
How long does an Arizona school have to evaluate my child?
Up to 15 school days to respond to your written request, then 60 calendar days from your written consent to complete the evaluation and decide eligibility, according to the Arizona Department of Education. An extension of up to 30 days needs written agreement from both you and the school.
Does my child need an ADHD diagnosis to get a 504 plan?
No. You can ask the school to evaluate without one, and the school team decides eligibility. A clinician's report can still help the school understand what your child needs.
At what age can a child be evaluated for ADHD at Better Place Now?
From age 6, by secure video anywhere in Arizona or in person in the Phoenix area by arrangement, with a parent or guardian part of every visit.
Sources
- Special education timelines (opens in a new tab). Arizona Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services, 2026.
- 34 CFR 300.301: Initial evaluations (opens in a new tab). U.S. Department of Education, IDEA.
- Dear Colleague Letter and Resource Guide on Students with ADHD and Section 504 (opens in a new tab). U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 2016.
- Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of ADHD in Children and Adolescents (opens in a new tab). American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatrics (Wolraich et al.), 2019.
- Diagnosing ADHD (opens in a new tab). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026.
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: What You Need to Know (opens in a new tab). National Institute of Mental Health, 2024.
