Referrals
Referring a student is simple
Whether you're a district administrator or a parent, here's exactly how working with Sped Consulting goes — pick your path below.
- 1
Reach out
Contact us with the type of evaluation or support you need — triennial overflow, ERMHS, speech and language, AAC, an assessment backlog, or ongoing support. A short email is enough to start.
- 2
Scope and agreement
Our leadership team works directly with your directors and admin team to understand the need and propose a viable solution — then we complete contracting through your district's standard process: master contract, ISA, or purchase order.
- 3
Records and scheduling
You share the referral packet (assessment plan, prior reports, relevant records). We match the student with the right credentialed specialist and schedule testing promptly — on campus where appropriate.
- 4
Evaluation and report
We complete the evaluation within the agreed timeline and deliver a thorough, legally defensible written report with clear recommendations.
- 5
IEP meeting support
Our evaluator attends the IEP meeting to present findings, answer questions, and support the team in translating results into services and goals.
What we need from you
- Signed assessment plan and referral information
- Prior assessments, IEPs, and relevant records
- A district point of contact for scheduling
What you get from us
- A credentialed specialist matched to the referral
- Clear timeline agreed up front — and kept
- A defensible written report with actionable recommendations
- Evaluator attendance at the IEP meeting
FAQ
Common questions
What is a Non-Public Agency (NPA)?
An NPA is a private provider certified by the California Department of Education to deliver special education and related services to students on behalf of public school districts. Sped Consulting is a California Certified NPA, which means our staff and practices meet state standards and districts can contract with us directly.
Which districts and areas do you serve?
We serve school districts across California, with deep roots in the San Francisco Bay Area — we've worked with the Cupertino, Newark, Hayward, San Leandro, West Contra Costa, Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin school districts, through ongoing partnerships as well as targeted support such as family-requested IEEs. We also serve the Greater Sacramento region (Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado, Sutter, and Yuba counties), Solano and Contra Costa counties, and the Central Valley (Stanislaus County) — and we work with charter schools as well as districts. If you're elsewhere in the state, reach out — we're happy to discuss.
How does contracting work?
We work within your district's existing procurement process — master contracts, individual service agreements, or purchase orders. Once the agreement is in place, referrals can be sent as needed.
How quickly can you complete an evaluation?
Timelines are agreed up front for every referral, and we plan our capacity so districts can meet their legal assessment timelines — including during peak seasons. Contact us with your dates and we'll confirm availability before you commit.
We're behind on assessments — can you help us catch up?
Yes — this is our core model. We've completed more than 1,000 assessments for districts — including clearing entire backlogs — to get them back into compliance and good standing. Our credentialed team scales to your caseload, whether that's a handful of overflow evaluations or a full backlog catch-up effort.
Do you provide staffing support?
Yes. Districts also come to us for staffing solutions, and we can assist with both part-time and full-time placements of credentialed special education professionals — school psychologists, SLPs, OTs, special education teachers, academic specialists, BCBAs, and AAC specialists.
Are your IEEs truly independent?
Yes. As an outside agency, our evaluators are independent of the district. IEE reports reflect our evaluators' own professional conclusions, fully supported by the data — which is exactly what makes them credible to families and defensible in due process.
Who conducts the evaluations?
All evaluations are conducted by credentialed and licensed professionals: school psychologists, a licensed educational psychologist, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, special education teachers, academic specialists, BCBAs, and an AAC specialist. You can meet the team on our About page.
Can parents or caregivers request an IEE directly?
Yes — in fact, IEE requests always start with the family. Some families pursue an IEE at public expense through their district, and others engage us directly; we support both paths. Contact us and we'll walk you through the process.
Can you support students in Spanish?
Yes — our team includes a bilingual school psychologist with proficiency in Spanish, and we can discuss language needs for any referral.
Do you also provide ongoing services, not just evaluations?
Yes. Beyond evaluations, we support districts with IEP writing, SEIS data management, and related services. Tell us what your program needs and we'll scope it together.
Ready to send a referral?
Email us the basics or use the contact form — we'll take it from there.