pathwise

My child's teacher mentioned an assessment. What happens now?

Take a breath — this is a common moment, and there's a clear next step. Answer a few quick questions and we'll tell you exactly what to do this week.

Here's where you are

This usually means the school has noticed a pattern in how your child is learning and wants more information to understand it — not that something is wrong. In BC, this often goes through the school's School-Based Team before anything formal happens. It's the beginning of a process, not a verdict.

  1. 1

    Ask for a conversation

    Request a short meeting with the teacher to hear specifics: what they've observed, how often, and in which subjects. Ask whether your child has been referred to the school's School-Based Team — that's the group (usually the principal, a learning support teacher, and the classroom teacher) that reviews concerns and decides next steps, including who's assigned as your child's case manager.

  2. 2

    Bring a question list to that meeting

    Show the questions
    • What specifically have you noticed, and in which subjects or situations?
    • How long has this been observed?
    • What classroom strategies have already been tried?
    • Has this been referred to the School-Based Team, and what did they decide?
    • Would an assessment be through the school district (free, but often a wait) or private (faster, but paid — ask for a written quote, since pricing varies by clinician)?
    • What can start now, before an assessment is finished?
    • Who will be my child's case manager going forward?
  3. 3

    Send a short follow-up email

    Show the template
Most important Supports can often start before a formal assessment is complete. Ask directly whether classroom accommodations — extra time, chunked instructions, assistive tech — can begin now, while the assessment process runs separately.

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Your personalized roadmap

First, take a breath: what this does and doesn't mean

The process, step by step

Your first week

    BC school basics, explained

    The terms and choices parents most often ask about. Tap to open.

    Plan ahead by age and grade

    Pick where your child is now. You can look ahead to the next stage too.

    Your next 60 days

    Remember This roadmap helps you with the process: who to ask, what to ask, and when to follow up. It doesn't interpret results, diagnose anything, or give legal advice. If you receive a report, ask the person who wrote it, or the school team, to walk you through it.
    Where this comes from

    Plain-language summary of public BC information, last checked October 2026. Districts differ, so always confirm with your school or district.