Educational & Diagnostic Testing Center

What We Do

As a means of complementing our school’s holistic approach, ACS Athens has established a service with the aim of conducting in-school psycho-educational assessments.

At the Educational & Diagnostic Testing Center, we strongly believe in the ACS Athens holistic philosophy, whereby students are encouraged to realize their unique potential. Using a multidisciplinary approach, our team of diagnosticians evaluates individual strengths and weaknesses by conducting a variety of psycho-educational assessments in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of every child. Individualized recommendations for interventions and strategies are provided, depending on the child’s unique learning profile, in order to help them enhance overall functioning.

What Makes Us Unique?

  • Multidisciplinary Team - every child is assessed by a team of professionals, including Special Educators and Psychologists, in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of their needs
  • In-house Assessments for ACS Athens Students - assessments are conducted right on campus for ACS Athens students, allowing them to be evaluated within a comfortable setting. Diagnosticians are able to gather information and collaborate with teachers and other staff in order to have a holistic understanding of each child, ensuring the best possible outcome. 

Professional Services

What are Diagnostic Evaluations?

Diagnostic evaluations are a set of assessments that are conducted on a one-to-one (Diagnostician to child) basis in order to determine strengths and weaknesses and develop an individualized plan to enable students to perform optimally in their school and home environments.

Based on the need and age of each child, the Diagnostic team offers a wide range of evaluations. The ACS Athens Educational & Diagnostic Testing Center offers assessments in the following areas:

  • Cognitive strengths and weaknesses (e.g. perceptual reasoning, fluid reasoning, working memory, verbal comprehension, problem-solving and conceptualization, attention, processing speed)
  • Academic achievement (e.g. reading, writing, mathematics)
  • Perceptual processing and motor skills
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-Specific Evaluation
  • Tests for specific learning difficulties
  • Behavioral
  • Social-emotional well-being

In order to develop a holistic understanding of the child’s learning style, the following methods of evaluation may also be employed:

  • Educational and clinical history through the intake form
  • Guardian interview
  • Teacher interviews
  • Behavioral observations (both within the classroom setting and during the process of assessment)
  • Review of previous psycho-educational tests

When the evaluation process is completed, guardians will receive the following:

  • A report detailing the results of the psycho-educational assessments. Recommendations for strategies and interventions and, if applicable, referral for further evaluation and services will also be included in the report.
  • A consultation with members of the Diagnostic team in order to discuss the results of the evaluation.
  • For ACS Athens students, we continue to work with both school and family until school success is achieved.

Evaluation Procedures

  1. Referral: A referral is made by the child’s guardian, the ACS Athens child study team, or another educational professional.
  2. Initial Contact: The guardian contacts the Educational & Diagnostic Testing Center at ACS Athens and arranges an appointment for the upcoming week. The Guardian completes the Intake Forms and provides informed consent before the initial meeting; all forms are provided by our office.
  3. Intake Interview: Diagnostic team member(s) meet with the Guardian to discuss the information on the Intake Form and gather necessary details. The Guardian is requested to bring any previous assessments of the child. During the intake meeting, the assessment process is thoroughly explained to the Guardian(s) and any questions they may have been addressed.
  4. Testing Initiates: Testing with the child may occur over several days depending on the necessary evaluations to be administered.
  5. Final Meeting: Diagnostic team member(s) meet with Guardian to discuss results and recommendations.

Additional Services

Consultations by appointment: If you would like to confidentially discuss any of the following in relation to your child, individual consultations are available by appointment:

  • Understanding testing results conducted at another testing center.
  • Translating diagnostic data to school programming or for decisions concerning school placement options.
  • Guidance about the next steps after testing.
  • Exploring whether psycho-educational testing is recommended.
  • Other concerns.

Confidentiality

Children’s records and reports are all strictly confidential. A copy of the report will be kept in the student’s confidential file, in a secure location. The report will not be made readily available to anyone unless guardians have provided written consent. Confidentiality may be revoked only in the following circumstances:

  • A student is a danger to himself or others, and the law mandates that action must be taken to prevent such harm.
  • If the child is in need of protection, and a psycho-educational report is required.
  • If there is a court order for these records to be disclosed.

FAQ

Psycho-educational Testing is an in-depth individualized assessment of a student's cognitive, social-emotional and academic strengths and weaknesses. It is helpful in developing an understanding of how a student learns, diagnosing learning difficulties, and identifying gifted and talented students. Psycho-educational Testing may be required to document disabilities requiring accommodations in schools, universities, or the workplace, as well as requesting accommodation services in Standardized Testing (SAT, ACT, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) and Standardized Course Examinations (IB, AP, etc.).