This article shares the story of Jose, a student that presents an extreme example of what can happen to deaf and hard of hearing children in our nation's schools when assessment data is either inaccurate or ignored and parental input is absent. Presenting a unique challenge to the educational system, each deaf or hard of hearing child is at the center of controversial discussions, such as which classroom placements are appropriate, which language is appropriate, and how amplification should be encouraged. As Jose's situation illustrates, these decisions are some of the most important in a child's life. Evaluations of students' placement, language, and use of technology decisions require the work of specialized professionals who administer evaluations developed by other specialized professionals. Parents need to be involved in every aspect of their child's education not only because they bring important information to the process but also because they can question and even provide insight into the assessments, and they provide oversight to the assessors. The article provides a list of four key points to help in assessing the deaf or hard of hearing child.