Independent Education Evaluation

Definition of an Independent Educational Evaluation
An evaluation conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the public agency responsible for the education of the child in question.

When does a parent have the right to request an IEE?

The parent/guardian has the right to obtain an IEE at public expense when the parent disagrees with the assessment completed by the District. However, the District may initiate a due process hearing to show that its evaluation is appropriate. If the District initiates a hearing and the final decision is that the District’s assessment is appropriate, the parent has the right to an IEE, but not at public expense.

The District is not responsible for providing an IEE when parents merely feel the need for additional information about their child, and which is not based on a disagreement with District assessment results or IEP team findings. Further, when multiple IEE reports are provided by the parents, the District is not responsible for the cost of more than one IEE in any areas assessed.

 

Who does IEEs?

The District will provide information to parents regarding places where an appropriate IEE may be obtained (34 CFR 300.502 [a]). Current federal policy provides that if the District does not provide a list of qualified evaluators within a geographic area, then the parents are not restricted to the District’s list of potential evaluators.

What is required for an IEE at public expense?

Federal regulations require that whenever an IEE is to be provided at District expense, the criteria under which the evaluation is obtained, including the location of the evaluation and the qualifications of the examiner, must be the same as the criteria that the District uses or would use when performing a similar evaluation (34 CFR 300.502. [e]).