What is an Independent Educational Evaluation?
An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is a comprehensive assessment of a student‘s educational needs conducted by a qualified professional who is not employed by the school district. This evaluation is typically requested when parents or guardians disagree with the results of an evaluation conducted by the school district or believe that additional information is needed to fully understand their child’s educational needs.
Key aspects of an Independent Educational Evaluation include:
- Legal basis: The right to an IEE is guaranteed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the United States.
- Qualified evaluators: IEEs are conducted by professionals with expertise in the specific areas of concern, such as psychologists, speech-language pathologists, or occupational therapists.
- Comprehensive assessment: The evaluation may include cognitive testing, academic achievement assessments, behavioral observations, and other relevant measures.
- Impartiality: The evaluator is independent of the school district, providing an unbiased perspective on the student‘s needs.
- Cost considerations: In many cases, the school district is required to pay for the IEE or demonstrate that its own evaluation was appropriate through a due process hearing.
- Parental choice: Parents have the right to choose the evaluator, as long as they meet the district’s criteria for qualifications.
- Consideration of results: The school district must consider the results of the IEE in making educational decisions for the student, although they are not obligated to implement all recommendations.
Reasons for requesting an IEE may include:
- Disagreement with the school‘s evaluation results
- Concerns about the comprehensiveness of the school‘s evaluation
- Desire for additional information or a second opinion
- Suspicion that the school‘s evaluation missed important factors
The process of obtaining an IEE typically involves:
- Requesting the evaluation in writing from the school district
- Receiving information from the district about their criteria for IEEs
- Selecting a qualified evaluator
- Completing the evaluation process
- Reviewing the results with the evaluator and the school team
- Incorporating relevant findings into the student‘s educational plan
Benefits of an IEE include:
- Providing a fresh perspective on the student‘s needs
- Identifying previously overlooked areas of concern
- Offering additional evidence to support appropriate educational services
- Empowering parents in the educational decision-making process
Understanding the option for an Independent Educational Evaluation is crucial for parents and educators alike in ensuring that students receive appropriate educational support based on accurate and comprehensive assessments of their needs.