Does ShillerLearning Offer Diagnostic Testing and Special Needs Support?

Yes. ShillerLearning's own site description states that diagnostic testing and special needs support are available alongside its Montessori-based homeschool math and language arts curricula for ages 3–13. The site also invites families to call 203-210-5208 to speak with a ShillerLearning homeschool expert. What the site does not publish is the format, length, cost, or eligibility rules for the diagnostic testing, or the specific scope of the special needs support — so treat those as questions to confirm directly before you buy.

What the site confirms

Why diagnostic testing matters for placement

ShillerLearning sells kits by broad stage rather than by a single grade: Preschool (ages 3+), Pre-K, Elementary, and Middle School. If your child is working above or below the typical level for their age, a stage label alone won't tell you where to start. A diagnostic test is the mechanism that maps a child's current skills to a starting point, which is why it's worth asking about before you order.

The same logic applies to special needs: a child who needs a slower pace, more repetition, or a different entry point is exactly the case where a generic kit level can misfire.

How to use this before buying

1. Call the expert line first. Dial 203-210-5208 and ask three specific questions: Is diagnostic testing currently offered? What does it involve and what does it cost? Does it produce a recommended kit or starting level?
2. Describe your child's situation concretely. Instead of "my child struggles with math," say what they can and can't do — for example, "counts to 20 but can't yet add single digits" or "reads decodable words but avoids writing." That gives the person on the line something to match to a kit.
3. Ask what special needs support looks like in practice. The site doesn't specify whether it means adapted pacing, modified scripts, one-on-one consultation, or something else. Get the answer in specifics before you rely on it.
4. Confirm the return or placement-change policy in case the recommended kit turns out to be the wrong fit.

What the site does not tell you

• Whether diagnostic testing is free, paid, online, or by phone
• Whether it's a formal assessment or an informal placement conversation
• Which specific diagnoses or learning profiles the special needs support covers
• Whether support is included with a kit purchase or sold separately

None of these are answered in the available site content, so any assumption in either direction — that it's free, or that it's comprehensive — isn't supported.

A practical example

Suppose your 8-year-old is homeschooled, reads at grade level, but freezes on multi-digit arithmetic. You browse the Elementary shop, but you can't tell from the product listings whether to start at the beginning of the elementary sequence or jump ahead in language arts while going back in math. That's the exact situation where you'd call 203-210-5208, describe the split, and ask whether the diagnostic process can produce a mixed-level recommendation.

Bottom line

ShillerLearning advertises both diagnostic testing and special needs support, and provides a phone line for expert guidance — so the pathway exists. The details you need to make a decision (format, cost, scope) aren't published, which means one phone call is the fastest way to find out whether these services fit your child. If they do, use the diagnostic result to pick your kit rather than guessing from age or grade alone.