What is an Independent Educational Evaluation?
At Brainlearning, we have been conducting Independent Educational Evaluations (IEE) since 2005. We have contracts with almost every school district in San Diego County, and districts as far north as Orange County. Here is some information about why we believe in IEEs.
- Provides useful information to the IEP team.
- Provides objective information about the child and education.
- Sometimes a second opinion is necessary. For example, when an individual is diagnosed with a brain tumor, many times a second opinion is sought after to improve the accuracy and reliability of the first diagnosis.
According to wrightslaw.com, Federal law defines an IEE broadly as “an evaluation conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the public agency responsible for the education of the child in question.” 34 C.F.R. 300.503.
Thus, an IEE is not limited to evaluating only a child’s academic or cognitive skills, but may include the evaluation of any skill related to the child’s educational needs. Evaluations of neurological functioning, adapted physical education, sensory needs, even music therapy, are but a few examples of the types of IEEs covered under the IDEA. Parents may obtain an IEE, for virtually any purpose if it impacts the child’s education.
According to Wrightslaw.com, When parents and the school district disagree about the need for an independent educational evaluation (IEE), there are certain conditions in which a school district may be forced to pay for the evaluation. If the parents present an evaluation that the school district previously refused to conduct, the school district may be required to reimburse the parents for the costs of this evaluation – if it is determined that the evaluation provided information which impacted the child’s education, services or placement.
Additionally, if the parents disagree with a school district evaluation and request an IEE at public expense, the school district must obtain the IEE and pay for it unless the school district requests a due process hearing and the hearing officer rules that the IEE is not needed. 34 C.F.R. 300.503.
In other words, the school district cannot simply refuse the parents’ request for an independent evaluation. The district must consent to the IEE at public expense, or request a due process hearing and prove to a hearing officer that the school evaluation was sufficient. Finally, if a hearing officer orders an IEE during the course of a due process hearing, it will be conducted at public expense.
One goal of Congress in passing the 1997 Amendments to the IDEA was to strengthen the role of parents in the educational decision-making process. There was a time when parent attendance at an IEP meeting wasn’t mandatory. An IEE provides parents added authority at the IEP meeting.
