ELEMENTS EDUCATIONAL EVALUATIONS

Any child can receive an Educational Evaluation, regardless of their learning profile or background.

• Your child may be neurotypical or neurodivergent, with or without a formal diagnosis (including identified disabilities, giftedness, or twice-exceptional traits).

• They may have a 504 Plan, IEP, IFSP, or no official documentation at all—every child’s learning journey is unique.

All children would benefit from knowing their learning style, strengths, and inner genius.

Every child—every human, really—is a genius in their own way. Each brain and body develops differently, and that’s by design. Unfortunately, our education system hasn’t fully caught up to this reality, which means many children have unrecognized or underutilized strengths.

In some cases, children are even penalized for their natural gifts:

• The artist who’s told not to doodle.

• The musician who’s told to stop drumming on their desk.

• The athlete who’s told to sit still.

• The comedian who’s told to quiet down.

• The empath who’s told to stop being "too sensitive."

The list goes on. But when we identify and understand a child’s strengths, everything changes. Awareness brings confidence and clarity—for both the child and their caregivers.

Families seek an Elements Educational Evaluation for many reasons, including:

• Gaining deeper insight into their child’s unique strengths and learning style.

• Understanding how to best support their child in their current school.

• Exploring alternative education options that may be a better fit.

This assessment isn’t just about labels or test scores—it’s about empowering children to thrive in a way that honors who they truly are.

All Elements Educational Evaluations are conducted by Heather DiNino, M.Ed., founder of Elements Academy and experienced educator.

With years of experience as a special educator in public schools, Heather conducted evaluations to assess students with and without special needs. While these assessments were designed to determine eligibility for special education services, she saw them as an opportunity to uncover each child’s learning style, strengths, and natural gifts—helping them build confidence and thrive.

Now, as the founder and director of a strengths-based school, Heather combines her expertise in evaluation with her passion for seeing children at their best. Her holistic, child-centered approach ensures that every evaluation highlights a child's full potential, providing families with the insights they need to support their child’s success.

Heather has a special gift for helping even the most introverted children feel safe, seen, and understood—allowing the evaluation to be truly authentic and impactful.

An educational evaluation is a comprehensive process designed to understand your child’s unique strengths, intelligences, and learning profile. Whether your child has had previous testing (formal or informal) or this is their first evaluation, we will tailor the process to meet their needs.

Here’s what it includes:

1. Consultation
We begin with a conversation between you (the family) and me, Heather DiNino. This discussion helps us clarify goals, ensure compatibility, and determine the best approach for your child’s evaluation.

2. Review

Heather will review any previous evaluations, reports, or paperwork that is pertinent to this evaluation and to the child’s education. (This may include the child’s IEP, 504, Neuropsychological Evaluation Reports, and/or Education Evaluation Reports)

3. Assessment Sessions
Your child will work one-on-one with me in a relaxed, supportive setting. Depending on their age and personality, assessments may take anywhere from 45 minutes (in one session) to 2–3 hours (spread across up to five sessions). My goal is to create a comfortable environment that allows your child to do their best.

In addition, you may be asked to complete questionnaires or assessments in order to gain a broad picture across various settings.

4. Written Report
Within *12-15 days, you’ll receive a detailed report outlining the assessments conducted, key insights, and how the findings can support your child’s growth and learning.

*timing is subject to change depending on the complexity of the evaluation and the volume of assessments being processed. During the consultation and scheduling, you will be informed of the expected turnaround time.

5. Follow-Up Meeting
To ensure you have the guidance you need, you’ll have the opportunity to schedule a 30–45 minute meeting (in person or via Zoom) within 30 days of receiving the report. This meeting allows us to go over the results, answer any questions, and discuss actionable next steps.

This evaluation is designed to provide meaningful insights into your child’s strengths and learning style, helping you support their growth with confidence.

The specific areas assessed will depend on the child’s age and individual profile, but typically include:

• Academic Abilities and Achievement
  Areas like Reading, Written Expression, Math, and General Knowledge are explored to understand the child’s academic strengths and challenges.

• Cognitive Abilities
  This includes assessing the child’s problem-solving skills, critical thinking, memory, executive functioning, and attention to get a clearer picture of their cognitive profile.

• Social-Emotional Functioning
  Evaluates interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, coping strategies, behavior, and flexibility to assess emotional regulation and social interactions.

• Multiple Intelligences
  Focuses on the different ways the child may express intelligence (e.g., musical, logical-mathematical, linguistic, bodily-kinesthetic, etc.), giving a fuller picture of their strengths.

As important as the areas assessed are the intuitive observations and interpretations woven throughout your child’s evaluation in an effort to demonstrate their true potential.

Traditional educational evaluations are often triggered by concerns — when a child is struggling, falling behind, or not meeting expectations; however, they don’t always answer the important question: What does the child need to thrive? (In fact, through the lens of traditional education, it is not actually a schools job to help children thrive)

An Elements Educational Evaluation is different.

• Strengths-based: Rather than searching for a disability (or pretending one doesn’t exist), the goal is to uncover a child’s unique strengths, gifts, and potential. We focus on what makes them shine, not what they might lack.

• Holistic approach: This evaluation considers the whole child, looking at not just their cognitive and educational abilities but also their emotional, social, and physical development. We take into account the entire system in which they exist—family dynamics, school environment, and other influences—to give a comprehensive understanding of how they thrive.

• Comforting and patient: The process is designed to be gentle and thoughtful, ensuring that the child feels comfortable and supported throughout. The evaluation isn’t rushed—we create a calm space where children can feel at ease, and the process is communicated clearly so parents know exactly what to expect every step of the way.

This evaluation is a celebration of a child’s strengths and a partnership with families to help their child thrive in ways that honor their individuality and potential.

Once the assessment sessions are finished, you’ll receive a detailed written report outlining:

• The assessments conducted with corresponding age- or grade-normed scores.

• Key insights, including both research-based conclusions and intuitive analysis.

• How the findings can be used to support your child’s growth and development.

After reviewing the report, you’ll have the opportunity to schedule a meeting with Heather to discuss the results in more detail, answer any questions you may have, and explore actionable next steps for your child’s learning journey.

A strengths assessment, which includes the assessment sessions, a detailed report, and a follow-up meeting, is an investment starting at $997.

• Consultation call: Free of charge.

• Deposit: A deposit of $250 is required to secure your appointment if both parties decide to move forward with the evaluation.

• Payment options: You can choose to pay the full amount with the deposit or pay the remainder before the report is sent.

We accept payment via cash, check, Venmo, or credit card.