A Quick Guide to Independent Educational Evaluations- IEE’s

Once your child is classified as a special education student, your local school district will conduct a reevaluation of your child at least once every 3 years, as required under the IDEA and Commissioner’s Regulations. This is known as a Reevaluation (formally known as a Triennial Evaluation).

You, as the parent, have the right to one Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) each time the school district conducts an evaluation that you disagree with. The IEE should be at district expense and of no cost to you. For example, if as part of the Reevaluation your school district conducts a Speech/Language evaluation for your child, you are entitled to an IEE in the area of Speech/Language at district expense from a provider of your own choosing.

This request should be made in writing. If you request an IEE during a CPSE or CSE meeting, make sure to send a follow up email afterwards, reiterating the IEE request.

Your school district may ask why you disagree with their evaluation, however, they cannot require that you provide an explanation.

Once an IEE request is made, the district must, without unnecessary delay, either initiate a hearing to defend their evaluation, or, ensure that an IEE is provided to you.

The district may provide you with a list of qualified examiners for the IEE. You are not restricted to that list, however, the provider you choose must still be appropriately qualified in the area for which you are seeking the IEE. The district can limit the cost of your evaluation to what is reasonable and customary in the area.

The report from the IEE should be comprehensive, including an explanation of the recommendations. It should not be a summary of findings. It should describe the evaluations conducted, the results of the evaluations, and a list of recommendations based on those results.

Once an IEE is completed, the CPSE/CSE must meet to review the information and discuss it appropriately. They are not required, however, to accept the recommendations made in the IEE.

If done correctly, an IEE can be a powerful tool towards strengthening the role of parents in the decision-making process and ensuring that a student’s educational needs are adequately met.