BUSD speech services

We are doing this as well. We emailed the district and they sent us an application along with the requirements. You can email Stephanie Dictado at stephaniedictado [at] berkeley.net

It's my understanding that your son has to be in school at BUSD to get assessed. Since he hasn't started yet, he is not part of BUSD yet so wouldn't qualify for an assessment. Both my kids received speech therapy through BUSD. One ended up having to do outside services as well as it wasn't quite enough through BUSD

He's not a BUSD student yet, so you won't be able to have him assessed prior to Kindergarten. In my experience, the teacher needs to make the referral to speech and then the speech therapist does an initial eval and takes it from there. Also, they're pretty relaxed about certain articulation issues until maybe 1st grade (stuff like not being able to pronounce R's, and other speech skills that develop late). 

Yes, you can get your child assessed for speech or any disability prior to entering kindergarten.  My son received speech therapy through the school district from age 3 through kindergarten.  There are Early Childhood Interventions for many disabilities, I believe for age 3 and up.  Often speech issues can be corrected before kindergarten if you catch them early enough.  Email the Special Education Dept of the school district and include any assessment or doctor's record that you have already.  Or just describe the issue as well as you can.  The school district will have 15 days to get back to you with an Assessment Plan, which you then have to sign and return as soon as possible.  Best of luck!

It is incorrect that you need to be a BUSD student to be assessed. You only need to be a resident. My son gets speech therapy at Hopkins preschool 2 days a week but goes to a different preschool (CCC). I started the paperwork with BUSD last spring, when he was 3. They take the whole summer off so he wasn't assessed until this fall. He is now 4. If you start now, your child can get help as soon as they qualify. I wish I had started sooner. He might even qualify for help over the summer. 

Feel free to message me if you have any questions. And

You can absolutely get him assessed through BUSD! Any child 3yo and over qualifies for an assessment through their local school district. Contact the district, you’ll likely be assessed at a district location (not necessarily your “home” school). If your child doesn’t qualify you might consider reaching out to your pediatrician and going through insurance.

I think there is a law that says kids are eligible for school district services starting at age 3. So BUSD is obliged to do an evaluation as long as you live in their district. You would want to start the process right away because it can take a while to get that first appointment with the SLP.

Usually first step is filling out an application and proving residency.

Go to the BUSD website and search for "Special Education". You will find the right contacts.

If you need a referral, your PCP can provide one.

If you have health insurance, they may cover a private assessment and some sessions. That could be a temp solution while you wait for BUSD.

Just wanted to post to counteract some of the comments here which are providing incorrect information- you absolutely can have your child assessed by the district for special education services prior to starting Kindergarten. The school district is responsible for providing special education services for kiddos once they turn 3. They also have a legal obligation (known as Child Find) to assess any kiddo suspected of having a disability that would qualify them for special education services. Speech language impairment is an eligibility category. You need to submit a written request to the district- there is a sample letter for requesting assessment on DREDF’s website. Please also take one of the free trainings on the process through DREDF so you are informed of your rights and understand the process.