Are you the parent of a child with special needs and feel like their current education plan is not meeting their needs? You’re not alone. Many parents of children with disabilities struggle to advocate for the services their child needs in the classroom. One way to do this is by requesting an independent educational evaluation (IEE).
An IEE Special Education is a thorough evaluation of your child’s academic needs conducted by a qualified professional not affiliated with the school district.
This evaluation can provide valuable information to help create an individualized education program (IEP) that meets your child’s unique needs and sets them up for success. This is one of the key goals of a special education teacher. In this blog, we’ll delve into what an IEE is, how it works, and how it can be a helpful tool for parents navigating the special education process.
Independent Educational Evaluations
An independent educational evaluation (IEE) is an evaluation of a student’s educational needs conducted by a qualified professional not employed by the school district in which the student is enrolled. The student’s parent or guardian can request an IEE if they disagree with the evaluation conducted by the school district or believe the assessment was not thorough or appropriate. The reasons for requesting an IEE will vary.
An IEE typically occurs when there is a disagreement between the student’s parent or guardian and the school district regarding the student’s eligibility for special education services, educational needs, or the student’s individualized education program (IEP). In such cases, parents should be aware of the concept of Due Process for Special Education. The results of an IEE evaluation can inform the development of the student’s IEP or resolve disputes between the student’s parent or guardian and the school district.
Professionals, including psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and other specialists, can conduct IEEs. The specific professionals who can administer IEEs and the process for requesting an IEE vary by state. You can learn more about this at The National Center for Learning Disabilities.
In some states, the school district must pay for the IEE if the student’s parent or guardian requests it. In other states, the student’s parent or guardian may need to pay for the IEE.
Request for an IEE
To request an independent educational evaluation (IEE) for your child, you must follow the procedures outlined by your state’s education agency and the school district where your child attends school.
The process for requesting an IEE may vary slightly from state to state and district to district, but there are a few steps you can generally expect to take:
- Request an IEE by contacting the school district of your child. Depending on your school district’s preferences, you may submit this request in writing or in person. Specify the specific evaluation areas you want to see included in the IEE.
- The school district will provide information regarding the IEE request procedure and any necessary forms. Additionally, they may provide a list of qualified professionals to conduct the evaluation.
- Select a qualified expert to perform the evaluation. Selecting a professional with expertise in the specific areas you want to evaluate is essential. Consult with your child’s primary care physician or solicit recommendations from other parents or professionals.
- Schedule the evaluation with the selected expert. The professional will coordinate with you to determine a time and location for the review. Being well-prepared for the assessment and bringing pertinent documents or information is essential.
- Review the evaluation results with the evaluator and your child’s school district. You can use the written report to inform the development of your child’s individualized education program (IEP) or to resolve any disputes with the school district.
It is important to note that school districts are not required to pay for an IEE if a parent or guardian requests one. In some states, the parent or guardian may pay for the evaluation. Check with your state’s education agency and your child’s school district to determine who will cover the evaluation cost.
IEE at Public Expense; If Not, Who Pays?
The provision of an independent educational evaluation (IEE) at public expense is contingent upon the laws and regulations of the state where the student is enrolled and the specifics of the request. You can learn more about this by contacting organizations such as the Parent Technical Assistance Center in your region.
Parents or guardians of a student with a disability have the right to request an IEE under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) if they disagree with the evaluation conducted by the student’s school district. Suppose a parent or guardian requests an IEE. In that case, the school district must either pay for the evaluation or initiate a due process hearing to prove its evaluation was appropriate.
Suppose the school district initiates a due process hearing. In that case, an impartial hearing officer will decide if the school district’s evaluation was appropriate or if the parent or guardian is entitled to an IEE at public expense. If the hearing officer determines that the school district’s evaluation was adequate, the parent or guardian may still be able to pay for an independent educational evaluation (IEE).
The laws and regulations regarding IEEs and the provision of IEEs at public expense vary from state to state. Please consult your state’s education agency and your child’s school district to determine the exact procedure for requesting an IEE and who is responsible for paying for it, like an IEE special education Texas or IEE special education California.
What is IEE vs. IEP?
An independent educational evaluation (IEE) is an evaluation of a student’s academic needs carried out by a qualified professional not employed by the school district where the student is enrolled. This type of evaluation is also known as an independent educational assessment. Suppose a student’s parent or guardian disagrees with the evaluation conducted by the school district or believes that the evaluation was not thorough or appropriate. In that case, they have the right to request an independent educational evaluation (IEE).
People can use the findings of an independent educational evaluation (IEE) in several ways, including as a basis for the student’s individualized education program (IEP) or as a tool for mediating disagreements between the student’s parent or guardians and the school district.
A student who has a disability should have what is known as an individualized education program (IEP), which is a document that is legally binding and outlines the educational goals, supports, and accommodations that the school will provide to the student.
The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is crafted by a group of trained specialists in collaboration with the student’s parents or legal guardians to cater to the student’s specific requirements and guarantee that they receive a public education that is both free and appropriate (FAPE). The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is examined and modified annually to account for student development and any requirements shifts.
An individualized education program, or IEP, is a document that outlines the educational supports and accommodations provided to a student who has a disability. In brief, an IEE Special Education is an evaluation that one may use to inform the development of an IEP.
An IEE may be necessary for a student in special education for some reasons:
- Parental or legal guardian disagreement with the school district’s evaluation: If a parent or legal guardian has reason to doubt the accuracy or thoroughness of the evaluation, they may request an independent educational evaluation (IEE) to provide a second opinion.
- To ensure that all of their child’s needs are being met, parents and guardians can request an independent educational evaluation (IEE) if they feel that the assessment conducted by the school district was insufficient.
- Suppose a parent or guardian disagrees with their child’s individualized education program (IEP). In that case, they have the right to request an independent educational evaluation (IEE) to inform the creation of a new IEP.
- There is a need for more information, and an IEE can provide that by revealing the student’s unique strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles.
- Whether or not an IEE is required depends on whether or not the student’s needs have changed significantly since the last evaluation and whether or not the current IEP is adequate to meet those needs.
An IEE requested by a parent or guardian will not necessarily result in financial support from the school district. It’s possible that in your state, the evaluation fee will fall under the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.
If you want to know who will pay for the evaluation and the specific procedure for requesting an IEE, you should contact the education agency in your state and the school district where your child attends school.
About Us:
Jennifer Hanson is a dedicated and seasoned writer specializing in the field of special education. With a passion for advocating for the rights and needs of children with diverse learning abilities, Jennifer uses her pen to educate, inspire, and empower both educators and parents alike.