PINE STATE
LEARNING

Independent Academic Evaluation

A school evaluation quantifies the gap; an independent evaluation identifies its cause and specifies a course of action. Our reports are used for advocacy, to inform tutoring in another setting, or for creating homeschool curricula.

A clinician smiling with a student during a one-on-one session

Why our evaluations are different

A school evaluation is designed to determine eligibility: whether a student meets the criteria for special education services under state and federal guidelines. Eligibility determination is a legitimate and necessary function, but it is a narrower question than diagnosis. An eligibility evaluation can conclude that a child does not qualify for services without ever identifying why the child is struggling.

An independent evaluation answers the diagnostic question. We use validated, nationally normed assessments across reading, writing, and math, and we take teacher reports, the learner's complete history, and the cognitive profile into account in our recommendations. Oral fluency, reading rate, comprehension, word recognition, and decoding are considered in the context of the supporting sensory cognitive skills: phonological awareness (perceiving and manipulating the sounds within words) and orthographic processing (recognizing and recalling letter patterns). From that data we identify whether the profile is consistent with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia and which subtype, and translate the findings into an intervention plan: the structured literacy approach indicated, the recommended frequency and duration, and progress monitoring guidelines for verifying that the intervention is working.

Who this is for

●Lingering questions after a school evaluation
●Your child has a learning disability label, but no one has explained what it means for how they learn
●Persistent learning difficulties, but your learner is not qualifying for special education
●You are watching a program fail and need to make the case for something different
●A school evaluation that felt rushed, or recommended services that quietly disappeared
●No one has evaluated your child at all, and you are starting from scratch
●You have been told to wait and see, but time matters

What we look at

We use validated, nationally normed assessments across reading, writing, and math, and we observe your child in their classroom when possible. We review the reports and records that already exist. Then we spend time understanding the patterns and reasons for learning challenges. Assessments are administered around the needs of each child, with breaks, accommodations for attention or anxiety, and enough time to see their skills.

Reading
Oral fluency, reading rate, comprehension, word recognition, and decoding are considered in the context of the supporting sensory cognitive skills of phonological awareness and orthographic processing.
Writing
We measure the underlying skills of phonological processing, orthographic processing, verbal abilities, as well as the conventions, syntax, grammar, sentence and paragraph writing to figure out writing levels and also the cause.
Math
Computation, math applications, and fact fluency are considered in the context of the underlying concepts of numeration, number sense, geometry, measurement, and data reasoning to identify both math levels and the cause of the difficulty.
Fee schedule · August 2025 to July 2027

Evaluation options

Full Battery: Reading, Writing, and Math
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The complete picture across all three academic domains, for families who need answers about more than one area or a full foundation for an IEP conversation.
$3,500
Included
●Intake process and conference
●File review
●In-person evaluation session
●Written report: recommendations and accommodations identified
●Parent conference
●Additional IEP support available at hourly rate
What we assess
Validated, nationally normed assessments across reading (oral fluency, reading rate, word recognition, decoding, comprehension), written language (spelling, sentence construction, written expression), and math (computation, applications, number sense, geometry, measurement).
Full Reading Battery
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For the child whose struggle centers on reading: it tells you whether this is dyslexia, which subtype, and which structured literacy intervention fits.
$2,400
Included
●Intake process and conference
●File review
●In-person evaluation session
●Written report with recommendations
●Parent conference
What we assess
Validated, nationally normed assessments of oral reading fluency, reading rate, comprehension, word recognition, phonemic decoding, and the underlying phonological and orthographic skills that support reading.
Full Math Evaluation
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For the child whose struggle centers on math: gaps in number sense look different from gaps in fact fluency, and they need different instruction.
$2,400
Included
●Intake process and conference
●File review
●In-person evaluation session
●Written report with recommendations
●Parent conference
What we assess
Validated, nationally normed assessments of computation, math applications, and underlying concepts: numeration, number sense, geometry, measurement, and data reasoning.
Full Writing Evaluation
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For the child who can tell you a brilliant story but cannot get it on paper: it identifies exactly where the writing process breaks.
$2,400
Included
●Intake process and conference
●File review
●In-person evaluation session
●Written report with recommendations
●Parent conference
What we assess
Validated, nationally normed assessments of spelling, sentence construction, orthographic memory (how the brain stores letter patterns), and written expression.
A la carte
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For families who need a specific question answered rather than a full battery: a single assessment area, a file review, or targeted follow-up testing.
Priced by scope
Examples
●File review of existing evaluations, with written recommendations
●A single assessment area (for example, oral reading fluency or spelling)
●Follow-up testing to measure progress since a prior evaluation
●IEP meeting support at an hourly rate
How pricing works
Scope and cost are set at the free consultation, based on the question you need answered and what testing already exists. You receive a quote before anything is scheduled.

Not sure whether you need a full evaluation or a skills assessment? That is a good question for the free consultation; we will tell you honestly which fits your situation, including when you do not need us.

What you leave with: a report you can use

Not a stack of standard scores with no context, and not a summary so hedged with jargon it tells you nothing. A plain-language document that explains what we found, what it means for your child's learning, and exactly what to do next.

Recommendations are specific: if your child needs a particular kind of reading instruction, we name it. If there is a math concept missing before anything else will stick, we say so. You can bring the report to an IEP meeting, share it with a tutor, use it to push back on a plan that is not working, or build a new one that will.

See a sample evaluation report (redacted) →

Evaluation questions

How is an independent evaluation different from a school evaluation?
A school evaluation is designed to answer one question: does this child qualify for services? It is not designed to give you a full picture of how your child learns. An independent evaluation has no eligibility threshold to meet. Its job is to figure out what is going on and tell you plainly.
What does a Pine State Learning evaluation include?
We assess reading (oral fluency, reading rate, word recognition, phonemic decoding, and comprehension), written language (spelling, sentence construction, written expression), and math (computation, applications, and underlying concepts like number sense, geometry, and measurement). We use validated, nationally normed assessments and review all existing school records and evaluations. When possible, we observe your child in the classroom.
How long does the evaluation take?
The assessment itself is typically conducted across one or two sessions, depending on your child's age and stamina. We schedule with breaks and accommodations built in; we want to see your child perform, not shut down. After testing, we analyze results and write the report, which is typically delivered within two weeks.
What do I receive at the end?
A written report in plain language. Not a stack of standard scores with no context: a document that explains what we found, what it means for how your child learns, and exactly what to do next. Recommendations are specific. If your child needs a particular kind of reading instruction, we name it. If there is a foundational concept missing in math, we say so. You can bring this to an IEP meeting, share it with a tutor, or use it to ask better questions at school.
Can I use the evaluation report at an IEP meeting?
Yes; that is one of the most common reasons families come to us. An independent evaluation carries significant weight in IEP meetings. If the report recommends specific services or approaches the school is not currently providing, you can use it to formally request those changes.
Do I need an independent educational/academic evaluation before starting tutoring?
Not necessarily. If your child already has a recent psychoeducational evaluation (within the last three years), we can often work from that: we review it, translate it into an instruction plan, and get started. If there is no evaluation or the last one is outdated, an assessment gives a much clearer starting point and gives you documentation to use at school.
Does insurance cover educational evaluations?
Most health insurance plans do not cover educational or psychoeducational evaluations. If a medical professional has documented that the evaluation is medically necessary (for example, in cases of significant anxiety or attention issues tied to learning), some plans may offer partial coverage. Contact your insurance provider about your specific plan; we are happy to provide a superbill if needed.
What if I am not sure which service I need?
If you are unsure whether you need an independent academic evaluation, a file review, or a skills assessment, book the free 15-minute consultation. We will tell you honestly which fits your situation, including when you do not need us.

Evaluations by location

Evaluation sessions are in person at our Brunswick office or our Greater Portland locations. Families travel to us from across Maine and New England; the pages below cover drive times and, for longer trips, lodging near the office.

Maine
Maine metro areas
New Hampshire
Massachusetts

Start with a free 15-minute consultation.

A quick conversation helps us hear your concerns and guide you to the next steps. We will get you set up to start tutoring, an independent academic evaluation, or a home learning kit, or send you to the professionals who can help if we cannot.

Book a free 15-minute consult
207.426.4267 lisa.murphy@pinestatelearning.com
Our Commitment to Equity

We are committed to working against the way that racial and socioeconomic privilege manifests itself in the identification and remediation of learning disabilities.

We do what we can by offering need based scholarships, doing pro-bono consultation for families with economic needs, providing services in some of Maine's lowest resource schools, and working with educational advocates on the toughest cases to help ALL students get what they need.