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By Liz Guettler, Redwood Assessment Specialist
Prefer to receive this information in audio/visual form? Watch our IEE video here.
The Special Education world has no shortage of acronyms - IEP, ILP, FAPE, OT, PT and the list goes on and on. But here’s a new one you may not have heard of - the IEE, which stands for Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE).
What is an IEE?
As a parent or guardian, you always retain the right to pursue an evaluation for your student- either through the school or through a private evaluator. Typically a private evaluation is paid for out of pocket and is referred to as an Independent Education Evaluation. Under certain circumstances, IEEs can be paid for by the school district. When this is the case, the evaluator is chosen from a list of approved professionals who are not affiliated with the school district.
Why might you want an IEE?
An IEE may be a good option for you if your student has undergone an education evaluation through his or her school and you did not agree with the results of the assessment. Here are some reasons you might request an IEE:
-If the school’s evaluation didn’t show evidence of a disability, but you believe the results to be incorrect
-You don’t believe the disability your child was diagnosed with is correct
-You don’t believe the testing results are accurate, or you believe there were extenuating circumstances that may have affected the testing results
-The examination did not look into all areas you were concerned about
Evaluation Rights
Under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), a parent or guardian can request this evaluation to be completed at public expense if you disagree with the results of a previous evaluation. Your school can either agree to pay for the IEE, or ask for a due process hearing to give the school a chance to defend the accuracy of the evaluation they conducted. The school sets standards for the IEE evaluator, such as their credentials or location, and they must be equivalent to those of the school evaluator. You have the right to one IEE request per evaluation conducted by the school.
How are IEEs used?
If you share the IEE results with the school, the report becomes part of your student’s educational records. The school will need to consider the results to be sure they are providing your child with free appropriate public education (FAPE). However, they do not have to agree with the findings and are not required to include them in the child’s education plan.
How to Request one?
Once you’ve made the decision to pursue an IEE, the request must be made in writing. In Illinois, the request must be submitted to the school district superintendent. The school district must grant the request or file due process within 5 days of the written request.
Want to learn more?
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