The Learning Index

💡 Wondering how to set your rate as a contract diagnostician?

It's one of the most common questions we hear, and one of the hardest to answer when you're just starting out. Charge too little and you're leaving money on the table. Not sure where to even begin? You're not alone.

That's why we created The Learning Index Rate Setting Worksheet, a free, step-by-step guide that helps you figure out YOUR rate based on your real goals, expenses, and worth. It walks you through your baseline numbers, the math to find your minimum hourly rate, different pricing models, and the factors that justify charging more.

It's available now free inside our Educational Diagnostician Contract Network | Texas group!

If you're a diagnostician (or thinking about making the leap to contract work), come join our community. Beyond the worksheet, you'll find contract opportunities, tips, resources, and a whole group of colleagues cheering you on.

👉🏾 Request to join the group and grab your free worksheet today!

Send a message to learn more

Thinking about contracting directly with districts? Start here.

One of the most common questions we hear from diagnosticians ready to go independent is: “How do I actually get in with a district?” More often than not, it starts with becoming an approved vendor, and here’s what that looks like:

👉🏾 Research open RFPs: Many districts bring on contract service providers through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. Finding these is your first step.

👉🏾 Apply to become a vendor: Once you find an open RFP, you’ll complete the district’s vendor application.

👉🏾 Have your documents ready: Most districts will ask for:

✅ A price list
✅ Your W-9
✅ Proof of liability insurance

Every district is different, some processes are quick and simple, while others require more documentation and time. The key is to prepare early so you’re ready when the right opportunity opens up.

👉🏾 Have questions about the RFP or vendor process? Drop them below; we’re happy to help point you in the right direction!

The first week back is the perfect time for a records review! 📁

Before the evaluation calendar fills up, take a few minutes to:

☐ Check open evaluations.
☐ Identify approaching deadlines.
☐ Confirm missing documents.
☐ Review students transferring into the district.
☐ Schedule priority assessments.
☐ Create a follow-up list.

A little organization now can prevent a lot of last-minute scrambling later.

Helpful tip: Keep one master follow-up list and assign a specific next action and date to every item. “Follow up later” is much easier to manage when “later” has a deadline!

What’s the first thing you review when returning for a new school year?

🌟 PRESENTER SPOTLIGHT 🌟

One of the things that made EVALed™ so special? Our incredible presenters. 🙌🏾

Huge thank you to Dr. Schultz for sharing his expertise with our diagnostician community! His session on "Differentiating Dyslexia from Other Reading Difficulties" gave us great insight and takeaways that we're still thinking about!

If you were in the room, you know how good it was. 💚 And if you missed it, don't worry, we've got big things ahead.

Thank you, Dr. Schultz, we're so grateful to have had you!

👉🏾 Go give C-SEP: Beyond the Score a follow, you'll be glad you did!

Were you in Dr. Schultz's session at EVALed™? Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments!

Now that The Learning Index is officially a TEA-approved CPE provider 🎉, we're planning our first sessions, and we're building them around what this community actually needs.

So before we launch, one question for our assessment community:

👉🏾 What's the one topic you'd love more knowledge, tools, or confidence around?

Drop it in the comments, whatever comes to mind. We're taking notes.

🎉 IT'S OFFICIAL! The Learning Index is now a TEA-approved Continuing Professional Education provider!

That means the trainings and resources you get from us can now count toward your certification renewal!

This is just the beginning! Offerings will begin rolling out soon!

💡 And we want to hear from you! If you've got a professional development idea or a topic you'd love to learn more about and earn CPE credit on, drop it in the comments!

We're building this for our community, so tell us what you actually need.

🛡️ W-2 or 1099? Your insurance options are NOT the same.

One of the questions I hear most from educational diagnosticians is, "What liability insurance do I need?"

I put together a free reference guide that explains:
✔️ Insurance options for W-2 educational diagnosticians
✔️ Insurance options for 1099 contract diagnosticians
✔️ TEDA eligibility requirements
✔️ Companies to consider if you're an independent contractor

📥 The full guide is available in our partnered Educational Diagnostician Contract Network | Texas group. Join us for this resource, weekly contract opportunities, and practical tools designed specifically for contract educational diagnosticians.

Send a message to learn more

Happy Mother's Day!

A lot of people think removing a student’s name makes it okay to paste into ChatGPT.

If the information could still identify the student, it may still be protected under FERPA.

Things like grade level, disability, campus, behaviors, scores, or specific situations can still point back to a student.

AI can be helpful, but educators also need to know how to use it safely. 👀