ASSESSMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY

CALL 503.253.3486 or EMAIL kfosback@educationsoaring.com for INFORMATION

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GUIDANCE and RESOURCES for the CONCERNED PARENT

WE CAN HELP you make the intricate and crucial decisions necessary to place your child on the best possible educational path. 

WE CAN GUIDE you toward resources that meet your child’s immediate and long-term educational needs at school, at home and in the community.

WE CAN PROVIDE student assessment services, educational program planning, connections to valuable resources, advocacy support and on-site teacher conferencing to help you secure what your child needs today to prepare for a future of happiness and success.


ASSESSMENT SERVICES
Fees will vary. Call for Fee Schedule

Our assessment takes an objective look at your child’s past and present academic achievement compared to grade level norms and his or her tested abilities.  Information is gathered regarding your child’s preferred learning style, non-academic strengths and weaknesses, past and present interests and goals, satisfaction with current placement, and other pertinent information.

Education Soaring offers screenings, achievement testing, intelligence testing and other kinds of formal and informal assessments.

If requested, we can refer you to professionals such as psychologists, vision, hearing and speech specialists, or others whom we regard as the best in their fields and would serve your child expertly.

"Education Soaring was instrumental in getting my son tested by a qualified psychologist. I now understand my son more and am better equipped to advocate for him. Kristine pointed us to a children's program for aspiring artists. Without her help, I doubt I could have gotten the book sized application for The National Gifted Children's Fund done and turned in before the deadline. NGCF approved our application and helped my son with numerous supplies to further his education. Kristi has a knack for knowing what kids need, and with that, she sets out to do what is best for them."
- Parent of a sixth grade student


EDUCATIONAL PLANNING CONSULTATIONS
Two-hour Office Consultation - $150
Additional Consultations - $60/hour
Email Consultations - $50/hour

  • EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY BINDER
    • The portfolio is organized for documents and other evidence that identify and support the child's educational needs. District and state policies, state mandates, local resources, etc. are included in the binder.
  • OFFICE MEETING
    • Review school and medical reports, evaluations, report cards, work samples and other relevant documents.
    • Identify short and long-term educational and social/emotional goals and redefine them as needed.
    • Identify obstacles that have prevented (or may prevent) the child from meeting short and long term goals.
    • Present programming and informational options that can be implemented immediately. These may include, but are not limited to, referrals to specialists, connecting parents to local, state and online resources, provision of reading material, connecting parents with other parents who share similar challenges.
    • Address additional areas of concern.
  • FOLLOW-UP
    • Sixty days of follow-up emails and telephone calls to be initiated by the parent. This is an important component of the consultation process since success depends in large part on parent/school communications.
Your child’s current educational placement is reviewed and matched to his or her identified needs.  We may conclude that your child is receiving educational programming that is serving him or her well.  But if unmet needs are identified, we work with you to formulate an optimal education plan for your child.  

If your child is achieving below grade level in one or more areas, we can suggest program options designed to raise academic achievement.  If it appears that your child is not achieving to his or her potential and it is unclear why, we may recommend that more in-depth evaluations be conducted.  If requested, we can refer you to professionals such as psychologists, vision specialists, or other specialists whom we regard as the best in their fields and would serve your child expertly.

If we conclude that your child is academically underchallenged, we will recommend enrichment or acceleration in regular, supplemental or alternative school settings. Supplementary programming, which we can assist you in accessing for your child, might include distance learning or local opportunities.


ADVOCACY and
TEACHER CONFERENCING

Advocacy Letters - $50
On-site School Conference Participation - $75/hour
We help communicate your child’s educational needs to those who work with him or her in academic settings. When we consult with educators and parents, we do so in a mutually supportive manner in order to ensure that a child’s best possible learning environment is secured. Our attendance at conferences is always prefaced with a cordial letter to the school and parents defining our role as an advocate for the child rather than as an adversary of the school.We help parents understand the meanings behind terms used by educators. We show parents how to respond to educators orally and in writing in ways that emphasize collaboration and increase children's educational options rather than decrease them.
"We had our second IEP meeting to finalize plans for next year and we just have to thank you for all your help.  Every recommendation that you made was implemented except having one-on-one assistance for organizational tasks.  However, a certain amount of time per class will be devoted to organizational needs, so we actually got what was needed from the teacher, rather than an assistant.  We are feeling a lot better about our daughter going to middle school next year.  Having your report in hand (my hand and their hands) helped to focus in on our daughter's specific needs and kept us on track ourselves!"
- Parent of a fifth grade student,


BOOKS and RESOURCES

Education Soaring maintains an up-to-date library of educational books, videotapes, audiotapes, and publications for the benefit of children, parents, and educators. Everyone in the Education Soaring community is encouraged to enjoy this material here or to check it out to enjoy at home.

Hands-on instructional materials such as Zome System, Hands-On Equations, Robotix, digital microscopes, rock collections, etc. are available for children to "test market" or use for school assignments. 

Education Soaring also has a library of books children enjoy for reading pleasure or find useful to assist them in the completion of homework assignments. Many of these resources are available  for you or your child to use at Education Soaring or to check out through our lending library.

"Through email consulting Kristine helped us define our highly gifted daughter's school needs and shape our focus.   She led us away from frustration with unsatisfactory past experiences to concentrate on what is important right now.  She gave us a well-organized plan for laying the groundwork for future advocacy challenges.  Now we are much more able to fulfill our roles as equal partners in our child's education using the sample documents, information, guidelines, and suggestions Kristine provided."
- Parent of a third grade student, SW United States