About Us

Evaluations tend to be less stressful than standardized tests because they are much more informal (usually an interview style) and nothing is timed. They are extremely beneficial for young children, students with special circumstances, and children with learning disabilities.

Who can evaluate your child?

If an independent evaluation or assessment is chosen, the evaluation report must be completed by a person licensed to teach in your state, or a person with a master’s degree or higher in an academic discipline who has knowledge of the child’s academic program.

In the state of NH, portfolio evaluations are an alternative form of assessment, in lieu of formal testing. We are happy to schedule you in for an annual portfolio review. During this time, we will review your curriculum, your child's daily work and assessments.

When is the best time of year to have an evaluation?

Schedule the evaluation when you feel confident that your child has completed most of the year's work. Most people schedule appointments in the spring, as the  school year is winding down. However, we are available all year round.

As stated earlier, each evaluator has his or her own method of conducting an evaluation. They may wish to talk to the parent with or without the student being present. Here at Next Step Learning, we leave this decision up to the parents. Your child may or may not be comfortable meeting with our evaluator. During our interview we will look to see a selection of the student’s work, your choice of curriculum, as well as assessments.