Are you fully involved in your child’s educational journey? As a parent or guardian, it’s not just your right—it’s your responsibility to actively participate in every decision that impacts your child’s future. This is especially true for the evaluations that determine the support they receive.

Schools must consider your insights when shaping your child’s educational services. But what happens if you disagree with the school’s evaluation?

That’s where the Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) comes in—this legal mechanism ensures your child receives the appropriate services based on a thorough, impartial assessment.

What is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) in Special Education?

• IEE is a detailed assessment conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the school district.
• It offers an objective, third-party evaluation of your child’s educational needs, and is usually requested when parents disagree with the school's assessment.
• Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents can request an IEE at the school’s expense if they find the school’s evaluation insufficient.

What is the Process of an IEE?

1. Disagreement with School’s Evaluation

Parents may request an IEE when they believe that the school’s evaluation is inaccurate, incomplete, or does not adequately address their child’s needs.

2. Submitting the IEE Request

Parents may submit a formal, written request for an IEE and indicate their reasons for disputing the school’s evaluation.

The school can either approve the request or initiate a due process hearing to prove the adequacy of their evaluation..

3. Selecting an Evaluator

If the IEE request is approved by the school, parents can select an independent evaluator, though the school may provide guidelines on qualifications and costs.

The evaluator must not be affiliated with the school district and should be someone with expertise in the child’s specific areas of need.

4. Conducting the Evaluation

The independent evaluator assesses the special needs student in areas such as academics, speech and language, sensory processing, or behavior, depending on the concerns outlined in the IEE request.

5. Reviewing the Results

Once the IEE is complete, the evaluator shares the results with both the parents and the school district.

The IEP team then considers these results when deciding on the child’s special education plan and other services.

What are the Benefits of an IEE?

1. Unbiased Perspectives

A third party evaluation ensures an impartial view of the child’s needs. It also ensures that school’s limitations, such as budget concerns, do not influence the assessment.

2. Comprehensive Assessment

Independent evaluators often take a more in-depth approach by addressing the areas that the school's evaluation may have overlooked, such as emotional, sensory, or behavioral needs.

3. Advocacy Tool

When the IEE results differ significantly from the school’s evaluation, parents can present these findings as evidence during IEP meetings to ensure their child’s plan accurately reflects their needs.

4. Support for Parents

Knowing they have the option for an independent evaluation allows parents to advocate for their child more effectively. It reassures them that their concerns are being heard and offers a way to address any unmet needs their child may have.

Who Pays for an Independent Educational Evaluation?

In most cases, if parents disagree with the school’s evaluation and request an IEE, the school district must cover the cost. However, there are a few conditions:

• The school may request a due process hearing to prove that their evaluation was adequate. If they win, they are not required to pay for the IEE.
• The school can set cost limitations or recommend qualified evaluators, although parents are generally allowed to choose their evaluator as long as they meet the necessary qualifications.
• If parents opt to obtain an IEE privately, without school approval, they can still present the results to the IEP team, but they will typically bear the cost unless they can prove it was necessary to ensure a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).