Independent Educational Evaluation

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. A parent has the right to an evaluation that is completed by an unbiased third-party if the parent disagrees with an evaluation obtained by the public agency. These assessments can be related to cognitive, academic, emotional, behavioral, social, or communication needs.

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. A parent has the right to an evaluation that is completed by an unbiased third-party if the parent disagrees with an evaluation obtained by the public agency. These assessments can be related to cognitive, academic, emotional, behavioral, social, or communication needs.

Federal regulations require that parents and school personnel act as equal participants in the development of a child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and that the parents’ participation in the IEP process must be meaningful. In many cases, independent evaluations provide support for the parents’ opinions and requests. Parents are not the only ones to find IEE’s valuable. Sometimes, school districts request IEE’s when they lack the personnel or expertise to conduct a particular type of evaluation. In other instances, a school district may seek an IEE to assuage parental concerns about the fairness or accuracy of an evaluation.

For more information regarding parental rights or Independent Educational Evaluations, please contact our office.