Psychoeducational Evaluations & Learning Disability Testing in Davis
Answers You Can Use & Support That Makes a Difference
Evaluations that explain what’s going on, plus counseling and tutoring that build the skills to move forward.
Where Should I Start?
If you're looking for answers
- I'm not sure what's getting in the way of my child's learning
- The school already evaluated my child, and I don't agree with the results
- I need accommodations for college or an upcoming exam, like the SAT or MCAT
If you're looking for ongoing support
- My child is anxious, has low self esteem, or is struggling socially
- My child is falling behind or struggling in reading or math
- My child is having a hard time connecting with other kids
Figuring out what your child needs is the first thing we do together. Reach out for a free consultation, and we’ll help you find the best fit.
Psychoeducational Evaluation
Most families come to us with a version of the same question. Something is harder for their child than it should be, and nobody has figured out why.
An evaluation answers that. It’s a structured look at how your child thinks, learns, and feels, so that support strategies are targeted and effective, not a guess.
It often shows up like this:
- Your child is working hard and still struggling
- You're getting calls from the school about behavioral challenges
- Reading, writing, or math has never clicked, and extra practice hasn't helped much
- You're wondering if your child may have dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, or autism
What’s involved in a Psychoeducational Evaluation:
- Intake paperwork about your child's history, followed by an in-depth conversation about what you're seeing and what you're hoping to understand
- A review of school records and past evaluations, where applicable
- Input from your child's teacher about what they're seeing in the classroom
- A school observation when possible
- Multiple tailored testing sessions with your child
- A feedback meeting to go through the findings together
Evaluations take place at our Davis office, and we work with families throughout Yolo, Solano, and Sacramento counties.
After the evaluation, we go through everything together in plain language, so you’re not left with a document you have to decode on your own. You receive a written report, a diagnosis where one applies, and recommendations you can start using immediately to support your child.
The report gives you the documentation to bring to your school when requesting an IEP or a 504 plan.
Psychoeducational Evaluation
Most families come to us with a version of the same question. Something is harder for their child than it should be, and nobody has figured out why.
An evaluation answers that. It’s a structured look at how your child thinks, learns, and feels, so that support strategies are targeted and effective, not a guess.
It often shows up like this:
- Your child is working hard and still struggling
- You're getting calls from the school about behavioral challenges
- Reading, writing, or math has never clicked, and extra practice hasn't helped much
- You're wondering if your child may have dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, or autism
It often shows up like this:
- Intake paperwork about your child's history, followed by an in-depth conversation about what you're seeing and what you're hoping to understand
- A review of school records and past evaluations, where applicable
- Input from your child's teacher about what they're seeing in the classroom
- A school observation when possible
- Multiple tailored testing sessions with your child
- A feedback meeting to go through the findings together
Evaluations take place at our Davis office, and we work with families throughout Yolo, Solano, and Sacramento counties
After the evaluation, we go through everything together in plain language, so you’re not left with a document you have to decode on your own. You receive a written report, a diagnosis where one applies, and recommendations you can start using immediately to support your child.
The report gives you the documentation to bring to your school when requesting an IEP or a 504 plan.
Independent
Educational Evaluation (IEE)
When a district’s evaluation doesn’t seem quite right, or your child is not getting the services they need to learn at their best, you have the right to a second opinion from someone outside the school system.
IEE costs are generally covered by the school district, and the IEP team is required to consider the results.
An IEE might be the right fit for your child if:Â
- The district's findings don't square with what you see at home
- Your child was found ineligible, and you disagree with that result
- The IEP isn't working, and you're not sure the plan is aimed at the right thing
- You want clear answers and recommendations from someone who isn't part of the district
We provide you with the report before any meetings, so you walk in knowing what the report says and what to ask for. You receive a written report, a diagnosis where one applies, and recommendations that came from outside the district.
If you are interested in an IEE, or have questions about whether an IEE is appropriate, please contact us
Independent
Educational Evaluation (IEE)
When a district’s evaluation doesn’t seem quite right, or your child is not getting the services they need to learn at their best, you have the right to a second opinion from someone outside the school system.
IEE costs are generally covered by the school district, and the IEP team is required to consider the results.
An IEE might be the right fit for your child if:Â
- The district's findings don't square with what you see at home
- Your child was found ineligible, and you disagree with that result
- The IEP isn't working, and you're not sure the plan is aimed at the right thing
- You want clear answers and recommendations from someone who isn't part of the district
We provide you with the report before any meetings, so you walk in knowing what the report says and what to ask for. You receive a written report, a diagnosis where one applies, and recommendations that came from outside the district.
If you are interested in an IEE, or have questions about whether an IEE is appropriate, please contact us
College
Accommodations Evaluation
If you or your child had an IEP or 504 Plan in high school, those accommodations don’t necessarily carry over into college. Most colleges require recent testing and documentation from a qualified evaluator.
Plenty of students also get to college without ever having been evaluated. They managed in high school by working harder than everyone around them. But that’s no longer enough with a tough course load and nobody to check in.
Here are the signs that a college accommodations evaluation might help:
- You had an IEP or 504 Plan in high school and need updated documentation
- Coursework and college life feels unmanageable, and you're struggling to keep up
- Even though you know the material, you run out of time during tests
- You've never been evaluated for a learning disability or neurodivergence but suspect something's getting in the way of your learning
We evaluate with your college’s requirements in view, so the report provides what your disability services office needs. That includes schools like UC Davis, UCLA, and universities across the state.
After the evaluation, we’ll go through the findings together so you better understand how your brain learns best. You’ll have a written report, a diagnosis where oneapplies, recommendations to support your learning, and documentation you can submit to request accommodations.
College
Accommodations Evaluation
If you or your child had an IEP or 504 Plan in high school, those accommodations don’t necessarily carry over into college. Most colleges require recent testing and documentation from a qualified evaluator.
Plenty of students also get to college without ever having been evaluated. They managed in high school by working harder than everyone around them. But that’s no longer enough with a tough course load and nobody to check in.
Here are the signs that a college accommodations evaluation might help:
- You had an IEP or 504 Plan in high school and need updated documentation
- Coursework and college life feels unmanageable, and you're struggling to keep up
- Even though you know the material, you run out of time during tests
- You've never been evaluated for a learning disability or neurodivergence but suspect something's getting in the way of your learning
We evaluate with your college’s requirements in view, so the report provides what your disability services office needs. That includes schools like UC Davis, UCLA, and universities across the state.
After the evaluation, we’ll go through the findings together so you better understand how your brain learns best. You’ll have a written report, a diagnosis where oneapplies, recommendations to support your learning, and documentation you can submit to request accommodations.
Testing
Accommodations
Evaluation
Some students know the material and still can’t show it under standard testing conditions. Accommodations are meant to fix that mismatch, not give anyone an advantage, and testing boards require documentation before approving them.
This is often the right fit when you or your student:Â
- Know the answer; you just need longer than the clock allows
- Are distracted by things in the room that everyone else seems able to ignore
- Takes so much time reading each question that you hardly have time to answer it
- Have never been able to show what you know on a standardized exam
Testing boards take weeks to review a request, so the earlier you start this process, the better!
Each testing accommodations report is prepared to meet the documentation standards of the exam you’re taking, whether that’s the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT,
MCAT, or a professional licensing exam. Afterward, we go through the findings together. You’ll get not just a written report, but also a diagnosis, where applicable,
and helpful recommendations you can use in daily life.
Testing
Accommodations Evaluation
Some students know the material and still can’t show it under standard testing conditions. Accommodations are meant to fix that mismatch, not give anyone an advantage, and testing boards require documentation before approving them.
This is often the right fit when you or your student:Â
- Know the answer; you just need longer than the clock allows
- Are distracted by things in the room that everyone else seems able to ignore
- Takes so much time reading each question that you hardly have time to answer it
- Have never been able to show what you know on a standardized exam
Testing boards take weeks to review a request, so the earlier you start this process, the better!
Each testing accommodations report is prepared to meet the documentation standards of the exam you’re taking, whether that’s the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT,
MCAT, or a professional licensing exam. Afterward, we go through the findings together. You’ll get not just a written report, but also a diagnosis, where applicable,
and helpful recommendations you can use in daily life.
Individual Counseling
Anxiety, worry, and overwhelm can take up a lot of room in a child’s life Counseling helps them learn what to do when those feelings show up, so they can move through them. We support children ages 4 through 16 with neurodiversity affirming counseling.
This can help when your child:
- Is anxious about school in a way that's showing up in their body
- Panics, freezes, or shuts down when something feels like too much
- Is dreading a transition to a new school, a new grade, or a different life change
- Is having a hard time with friendships or bullying
- Has a recent ADHD or autism diagnosis and is trying to process their thoughts and emotions about it
Counseling with Rowan is play based and child led, which means support happens through activity rather than through a conversation about feelings. She’s certified in AutPlay, a neurodiversity affirming play therapy approach built for neurodivergent children. Rowan is also trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and incorporates this modality when appropriate.
Individual Counseling
Anxiety, worry, and overwhelm can take up a lot of room in a child’s life Counseling helps them learn what to do when those feelings show up, so they can move through them. We support children ages 4 through 16 with neurodiversity affirming counseling.
This can help when your child:
- Is anxious about school in a way that's showing up in their body
- Panics, freezes, or shuts down when something feels like too much
- Is dreading a transition to a new school, a new grade, or a different life change
- Is having a hard time with friendships or bullying
- Has a recent ADHD or autism diagnosis and is trying to process their thoughts and emotions about it
Counseling with Rowan is play based and child led, which means support happens through activity rather than through a conversation about feelings. She’s certified in AutPlay, a neurodiversity affirming play therapy approach built for neurodivergent children. Rowan is also trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and incorporates this modality when appropriate.
Individual Tutoring
When reading or math has been hard for a while, the issue usually isn’t a lack of effort. It’s that the teaching hasn’t matched what your child needs to learn. This is where tutoring comes in.
Sarah Foley, a credentialed teacher and trained reading specialist, has spent decades supporting students in reading and math. She is trained in Orton Gillingham based programs, including the Wilson Reading System and Lindamood Bell. Tutoring begins with a baseline assessment, then follows an individualized program built around what it shows. Tutoring is available for school aged children.
Individual tutoring can help when your child:Â
- Has been diagnosed with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia and needs specialized support
- Has decided they're bad at math, or gets anxious every time it comes up (common in middle school students)
- Is behind in reading or math, no matter how much effort they put in
- Has had reading support at school and it hasn't moved the needle
- Can sound out the words but can't tell you what the page said
- Never locked in math facts, and everything built on top of them is harder for it
- Melts down over homework, or refuses to start at all
Instruction is targeted rather than general. Your child works on the specific skill that’s missing, in the order those skills are meant to come, so each session builds on the last.
Individual Tutoring
When reading or math has been hard for a while, the issue usually isn’t a lack of effort. It’s that the teaching hasn’t matched what your child needs to learn. This is where tutoring comes in.
Sarah Foley, a credentialed teacher and trained reading specialist, has spent decades supporting students in reading and math. She is trained in Orton Gillingham based programs, including the Wilson Reading System and Lindamood Bell. Tutoring begins with a baseline assessment, then follows an individualized program built around what it shows. Tutoring is available for school aged children.
Individual tutoring can help when your child:
- Has been diagnosed with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia and needs specialized support
- Has decided they're bad at math, or gets anxious every time it comes up (common in middle school students)
- Is behind in reading or math, no matter how much effort they put in
- Has had reading support at school and it hasn't moved the needle
- Can sound out the words but can't tell you what the page said
- Never locked in math facts, and everything built on top of them is harder for it
- Melts down over homework, or refuses to start at all
Instruction is targeted rather than general. Your child works on the specific skill that’s missing, in the order those skills are meant to come, so each session builds on the last.
Social Skills Group
A small group for neurodivergent kids in late elementary (4th through 6th grade), built around practicing skills that are hard to practice alone: sticking with something difficult, trying something new in front of others, and buildingconnections with peers.
Groups are run a few times a year. Join the waiting list, and we’ll be in touch when the next one is starting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located?
Breakthrough Education Support is located at 1260 Lake Blvd, Suite 228, in Davis, California. We’re on the second floor, and there is an elevator available.
What areas do you serve?
Families come to us from throughout Yolo, Solano, and Sacramento counties, including Davis, Dixon, Woodland, West Sacramento, Winters, and El Macero.
How long does an evaluation take, start to finish?
Most evaluations take four to six weeks from start to finish.
Testing itself takes between four and eight hours total, split across multiple sessions rather than crammed into one day. How it’s divided depends on your child. Children under seven usually do best in one-hour blocks. For those between seven and ten, sessions tend to run about two hours. Teenagers can typically handle three hours. The goal is testing that reflects what your child can actually do, not what they can do while exhausted.
After testing, Rowan writes the analysis, compiles the information into a report with specific recommendations, and schedules a feedback meeting to go through it all with you.
Will my child's school accept your report?
Your child’s school is required to consider a private evaluation, and Rowan’s reports are written with school teams in mind.
Can you diagnose dyslexia, ADHD, or autism?
Yes. Rowan is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP #4295) and is able to diagnose. When a diagnosis applies, it comes as part of the evaluation, along with the recommendations for further support.
How do I request an Independent Educational Evaluation?
You request one in writing from your child’s school district, stating that you disagree with the district’s evaluation and are asking for an IEE at public expense. From there, the district must either fund the evaluation or file for a due process hearing to defend its own. If you’re not sure whether an IEE is the right step, reach out and we can talk it through together.
Do I need a new evaluation to get accommodations in college?
Usually, yes. A high school IEP or 504 plan may be accepted by a community college, but universities typically require new documentation, which means recent testing by a qualified outside evaluator. Always check with your college’s disability services department for their requirements.
Our college accommodation evaluations provide the documentation you need to help you get the accommodations you need to succeed.
How do I get extended time on the SAT, ACT, LSAT, GRE, or MCAT?
Every testing board reviews requests against its own criteria, and a diagnosis by itself isn’t enough. What they need is documentation showing that the condition creates a functional limitation under timed conditions, which is what an testing accommodations evaluation establishes.
For the SAT and ACT, a current IEP or 504 plan that already provides extended time is often the fastest route and could be approved without further testing. If there’s no school plan, or the documentation on file is out of date, an evaluation is what makes the case.
For graduate and professional exams like the GRE, LSAT, and MCAT, you need a current evaluation from a qualified professional.
Either way, start earlier than feels necessary. Review takes weeks, and it doesn’t begin until a complete request is submitted.
What kind of counseling do you offer for children?
Rowan offers individual counseling for children ages 4 through 16. The approach is play-based and child-led. She’s certified in AutPlay, a neurodiversity affirming play therapy approach developed for neurodivergent children. Parents often reach out because their child is experiencing anxiety, is dreading school, is going through a tough transition, or something difficult happening with friends.
Can tutoring help if my child is behind in reading?
Yes. Sarah Foley is a credentialed teacher and trained reading specialist with 20 years of classroom experience, trained in Orton-Gillingham-based programs including the Wilson Reading System and Lindamood-Bell. She starts by finding where the breakdown actually is, whether that’s decoding, fluency, or comprehension, then teaches to that specific gap. This is structured reading support, not just simple homework help.
Can tutoring help if my child is behind in math?
Yes. Sarah works one-on-one in math with elementary students who never locked in the foundational skills, and with middle and high schoolers who hit a wall somewhere in Integrated Math 1 or 2. Usually there’s an earlier skill that never got solidified, and the current material is stacked on top of it. Finding it and teaching it directly builds true understanding your child can use to move forward.
How much does a psychoeducational evaluation cost?
A comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation is $3,500. That’s a flat rate covering the full process: intake, parent
interview, records review, teacher input, a school observation when possible, testing across multiple sessions, the
written report, and the feedback meeting where we go through the findings together. There are no hourly charges
on top of it.
How much does a dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, or ADHD evaluation cost?
A targeted evaluation is $2,500. Targeted means we’re answering one specific question rather than taking a comprehensive look at your child’s learning, emotional, and behavioral experience. If you’re not sure which one fits, we’ll discuss what’s the best fit during your free consultation.
How much does a college accommodations or testing accommodations evaluation cost?
A college or testing accommodations evaluation is $3,500. (Discounts may be available for re-evaluations looking at a targeting concern.) That’s a flat rate that covers the full process, from the intake conversation through testing, the written report, and the meeting where we review the findings together. The report is prepared to meet the
documentation requirements of the college’s disability services office or the testing board you’re applying to. It also includes recommendations you can put to use in class and in daily life.
documentation requirements of the college’s disability services office or the testing board you’re applying to. It also includes recommendations you can put to use in class and in daily life.
How much does individual counseling cost?
Counseling is $150 for a 45-minute session. Sessions are with Rowan, who is certified in AutPlay, a neurodiversity affirming play therapy approach. Superbills are available if you plan to submit to insurance for out-of-network reimbursement.
How much does tutoring cost per session?
Tutoring is $85 for a 50-minute session. This is specialized reading and math instruction, not general homework help. Sessions are with Sarah Foley, a credentialed teacher and reading specialist with 20 years of classroom experience, trained in Orton-Gillingham-based programs including the Wilson Reading System and Lindamood-Bell.
Do you accept insurance?
Breakthrough Education Support is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly. We provide superbills for both evaluations and counseling, which you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
It’s worth knowing how insurance generally treats this kind of work. Counseling is often eligible for out-of-network mental health benefits. Evaluations are a different story. Health plans usually classify psychoeducational testing as educational rather than medical and decline to cover it, though some plans will reimburse when testing is tied to diagnosing a condition like ADHD or autism. Tutoring is not a medical service and isn’t covered by health insurance.
This isn’t specific to us. Licensed Educational Psychologists in California are not in-network with health plans because the work sits on the education side of the line. To check your coverage, call the number on your card and ask about out-of-network coverage.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. Evaluations are typically paid half at the start and half when the report is delivered. If a different schedule works better for your family, we’re happy to set up a payment plan with a credit card on file. Ask about the options during your consultation.
Can I use my HSA or FSA?
Yes. We accept HSA and FSA cards. Evaluations and counseling are typically eligible expenses. Tutoring may or may not be, depending on your plan and your child’s circumstances, so check with your administrator first.
Let's Take the Next Step Together
Whether you or your child are experiencing anxiety, ADHD, autism, a learning disability, or something else, there is a path forward. Let’s find it together, starting with a free consultation.
Let's Take the Next Step Together
Whether you or your child are experiencing anxiety, ADHD, autism, a learning disability, or something else, there is a path forward. Let’s find it together, starting with a free consultation.
Start the Conversation
Fill out the form below. We’ll be in touch within two business days to schedule your free consultation.Â
Social Skills Group