Contact

What is an IEE? Parents’ Guide to Independent Educational Evaluations

What is an IEE? | Bridges of the Mind

Understanding Your Rights to Educational Support in Sacramento, San Jose, and South Lake Tahoe

Are you wondering what is an IEE and how it could help your child? The special education process can be complex, but knowing your rights under the law is essential for your child’s success in the school system.

When your child struggles in school despite receiving support, you may need a professional perspective beyond what the school district provides. At Bridges of the Mind Psychological Services, our team of experienced psychologists specializes in comprehensive independent educational evaluations (IEEs) that can transform your child’s educational journey.

What Is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)?

An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is a comprehensive assessment conducted by a qualified examiner who doesn’t work for your child’s school district. This evaluation conducted by a qualified professional provides an unbiased perspective on your child’s learning profile and educational needs.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents have the legal right to request an IEE at public expense when they disagree with an evaluation obtained by the school district. This federal education act specifically protects parents’ rights to seek alternative perspectives when they believe their child’s educational needs aren’t being properly identified or addressed through the school’s evaluation.

“A parent has the right to an independent educational evaluation at public expense if the parent disagrees with an evaluation obtained by the public agency.” – Federal regulations under IDEA

What is an IEE’s purpose? An independent educational evaluation serves multiple important functions:

While the school district must consider the results of an IEE, they aren’t automatically required to implement all recommendations. The IEP team must review the findings, but the final decision on services remains with the school. However, having this independent expert opinion often makes a significant difference in securing appropriate special education services for your child.

When Should You Consider Requesting an IEE?

As parents, we often sense when something isn’t quite right with our child’s education. If parents believe the school’s initial evaluation is inadequate, they have the right to request an IEE. Here are situations where you might consider requesting an independent educational evaluation at public expense:

Disconnection Between Observations

If you’re looking at your child’s school evaluation results and thinking, “This doesn’t sound like my child at all,” this disconnection between school findings and your daily observations indicates an independent perspective might be valuable. When the school district conducts an evaluation that doesn’t align with what you observe at home, it may be time to seek a second opinion through an independent evaluation.

Unexpected Evaluation Results

When the school’s conclusions don’t match what you observe at home or what other professionals have noted, it’s worth investigating further. For example, if your child’s teacher reports reading difficulties all year, but the evaluation shows reading at grade level, something might be missing in the assessment process.

Incomplete Assessments

Schools sometimes focus narrowly on academic performance while missing underlying issues. A child struggling with math might have dyscalculia, visual processing issues, or anxiety—but if the school only tests mathematical knowledge, these root causes remain hidden.

Persistent Concerns Despite School Reassurances

You know your child best. If you’ve consistently noticed issues that the school evaluation doesn’t address, an IEE can validate your observations and translate them into educational terms that schools understand.

Continued Struggles Despite Support

If your child continues to struggle despite receiving some support, an IEE can help determine whether the current approach is addressing the right issues or if more intensive services are needed.

Denial of Special Education Services

When a school denies eligibility for special education services but you’re certain your child needs them, an IEE provides a crucial second opinion.

Evolving Challenges

If it’s been several years since your child’s last comprehensive evaluation and their challenges have evolved or intensified, a fresh assessment might be warranted.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides powerful protections for parents seeking independent evaluations. School districts have legal obligations to consider IEEs when determining a child’s eligibility for a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Understanding these rights is essential for effective advocacy:

  1. Right to request an IEE: You can request an IEE if you disagree with any part of the school’s evaluation—either the entire evaluation or just one component. When a parent disagrees with the school district’s evaluation, this right is protected under special education laws.
  2. Information access: Schools must provide information about where to obtain an IEE and what criteria they use for these evaluations, including qualified examiner qualifications and testing locations.
  3. Financial responsibility: Schools must either pay for the IEE at public expense or challenge your request through due process. The public agency cannot simply refuse or cause unreasonable delays. If the school district refuses your request, they must initiate a due process hearing.
  4. Frequency entitlement: You’re entitled to only one IEE at public expense each time you disagree with a school evaluation. This means if the school conducts a new evaluation later, you can request another IEE at that time.
  5. Limitations on requirements: Schools cannot impose stricter conditions for independent evaluators than they use for their own staff. They cannot force you to choose only from their list of approved evaluators or unreasonably limit the scope of the evaluation.

While IDEA doesn’t specify exact timelines, courts have interpreted “without unnecessary delay” to mean schools should respond within a short period, typically about 15 school days. Public education agencies must follow these procedural safeguards throughout the special education process.

How to Request an IEE at Public Expense

The process of requesting an Independent Educational Evaluation can be broken down into manageable steps:

1. Review the School Evaluation

Before requesting an IEE, thoroughly review your child’s school’s evaluation. Note any areas where you believe the assessment missed important aspects of your child’s learning profile. Collect work samples, notes from private therapists, or other evidence that supports your concerns.

2. Submit a Written Request

Address your written request to the Director of Special Education in your district. Be direct and clear—state that you disagree with the school’s evaluation and are formally requesting an IEE at public expense under IDEA regulations. While you don’t have to explain your reasons for disagreeing, providing some context can sometimes facilitate a smoother process.

3. Await the District’s Response

After submitting your request, the district must respond “without unnecessary delay.” The school has only two options: agree to fund the IEE or file for due process to defend their evaluation. If the school district refuses your request, they must initiate a due process hearing to show that their evaluation was appropriate. They cannot simply deny your request without taking legal action.

4. Select a Qualified Evaluator

If your request is approved, you’ll need to select a qualified examiner. The district will provide information about their requirements for evaluators, which can include credentials, location, and cost limitations. You can typically choose from their suggested list or propose another qualified professional who meets their criteria. The school district must provide information about where to obtain an independent educational evaluation.

5. Participate Actively in the Evaluation

Throughout the special education process, be an active participant. Share your observations, concerns, and any relevant history about your child. Make sure the evaluator understands all areas of suspected disability that need assessment. Collaboration between parents and school staff is crucial for ensuring your child receives appropriate services.

Types of Assessments Included in an IEE

A comprehensive IEE isn’t one-size-fits-all—it should be tailored to address your child’s specific challenges and strengths. Here are the common components that might be included:

Psycho-Educational Assessments

These evaluations examine how your child thinks, learns, and processes information, including:

Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA)

When behavior interferes with learning, an FBA helps understand why by identifying:

Speech and Language Evaluations

These assessments examine:

Occupational Therapy (OT) Assessments

OT evaluations look beyond fine motor skills to assess:

Assistive Technology (AT) Assessments

These evaluations identify tools that can help your child access the curriculum despite challenges, such as:

How an IEE Differs from School Evaluations

While both school evaluations and IEEs assess children’s educational needs, they differ in several important ways:

Evaluator Perspective

School evaluators are district employees who may already know your child or have preconceptions based on school records. Independent evaluators approach your child with fresh eyes and no institutional history, allowing for an unbiased assessment.

Depth and Scope

School evaluations typically focus narrowly on determining eligibility for special education services, following standard district protocols. Independent evaluations often dig deeper, looking beyond surface behaviors to understand underlying processes and examining children across multiple settings.

Time Investment

School psychologists often work under significant time constraints due to large caseloads. Independent evaluators typically spend more time with each child, allowing for more thorough assessment and observation.

Reporting Style

School reports often focus heavily on eligibility criteria using technical language. Independent evaluation reports tend to be more accessible and parent-friendly, explaining findings in plain language and connecting assessment results to real-life implications.

Recommendations Approach

School recommendations might emphasize accommodations (changes in how material is presented) over interventions (targeted teaching approaches). Independent evaluations often include both, plus suggestions for home-based supports and complementary services.

Using IEE Results in Your Child’s Educational Plan

Once you’ve completed the independent evaluation process, the next step is ensuring those valuable insights actually help your child in the classroom:

The School’s Obligation

Under IDEA, schools must “consider” the results of any IEE that meets district criteria. This means the IEP team needs to genuinely review and discuss the findings as part of their decision-making process—they can’t simply glance at it and disregard it.

If a parent obtains an independent educational evaluation, the school district must consider the results in their educational decisions for the child’s IEP. The law requires that the evaluation be considered during the special education process.

However, consideration doesn’t guarantee implementation. The school isn’t required to adopt every recommendation or conclusion from the IEE, which is why your advocacy skills become essential. The final decision on services still rests with the school system, but having well-documented evidence from an independent evaluation strengthens your position.

Effective Implementation Strategies

  1. Request a dedicated IEP meeting specifically to discuss the evaluation results.
  2. Prepare a simple summary highlighting the most important findings and connecting them directly to your child’s educational needs.
  3. Bring the evaluator to the meeting if possible (either in person or virtually).
  4. Focus on needs rather than labels during discussions. Instead of focusing on diagnostic terms, discuss how specific findings translate into classroom supports.
  5. Take detailed notes and ensure the IEE is specifically referenced in the IEP document.

Enhancing Educational Outcomes

A well-conducted IEE can improve several key components of your child’s educational plan:

Independent Educational Evaluation process infographic

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the school team may resist incorporating IEE findings into your child’s educational plan. When this happens:

  1. Request a written explanation of why they’re not adopting specific recommendations.
  2. Consider requesting mediation—a less adversarial approach than due process—to resolve disagreements.
  3. Focus discussions on your child’s specific educational needs rather than diagnostic labels.
  4. Prioritize key recommendations, identifying the most critical supports for immediate implementation.
  5. Propose trial periods for disputed interventions with clear metrics for success.
  6. Consult with a special education advocate or attorney if significant disagreements persist.

Common Questions About Independent Educational Evaluations

Who Pays for an IEE?

When you disagree with a school’s evaluation and request an IEE, the school district is responsible for the cost—this is what “at public expense” means. Public expense means either the public agency pays the full cost of the evaluation or ensures it is provided at no cost to parents.

This financial responsibility occurs in three scenarios:

  1. When parents disagree with the school’s evaluation and the district approves the request
  2. When the district agrees to the IEE without dispute
  3. When a hearing officer orders an IEE during due process hearing

The district either pays the evaluator directly or reimburses you if you pay upfront. Some parents may need to seek reimbursement if they initially pay at their own expense. The evaluation must meet the district’s criteria, but importantly, these criteria cannot be more restrictive than what the district uses for their own evaluations.

It’s important to understand the distinction between a private evaluation paid for by families and an independent educational evaluation (IEE) that may be funded by the school district. While families typically bear the costs of private evaluations, there are situations where the school is responsible for financing an IEE.

How Often Can I Request an IEE?

IDEA regulations establish a “one-per-evaluation” rule. This means you’re entitled to request only one IEE at public expense for each evaluation the school conducts that you disagree with. This applies to comprehensive evaluations, not individual components or tests within an evaluation.

When the school later conducts another evaluation—like a three-year re-evaluation—you can request another IEE if you disagree with those new results. Similarly, if you disagree with the school’s initial evaluation, you can request an IEE at that time.

The law allows for parents to request an IEE when they disagree with the school district evaluation, but limits this to one independent evaluation for each time the school conducts an evaluation.

Can I Choose Any Evaluator?

You have significant—though not unlimited—freedom in choosing an evaluator. You’re not restricted to only selecting professionals from the school district’s approved list. You can suggest qualified evaluators who aren’t on their list, and the school must genuinely consider your preferred professional.

The independent evaluator must meet the same basic qualifications the district requires for its own evaluators—typically appropriate licensure and credentials in the field. The evaluation conducted by your chosen qualified professional must follow similar criteria to the school’s own evaluations. The district might also have geographic limitations (though these must be reasonable).

Special education laws provide parents with the right to select their own qualified examiner for an independent educational evaluation, provided they meet basic professional requirements.

What If the School Refuses My Request?

School districts can only legitimately refuse your IEE request by filing for due process and proving their evaluation was appropriate. If the school district refuses your request without filing for due process:

  1. Document everything—keep copies of all correspondence with dates and times.
  2. Follow up in writing, referencing IDEA regulations and including a reasonable deadline for response.
  3. Escalate within the district if necessary—contact the special education director, then the superintendent.
  4. Consider formal complaint options: state compliance complaint, Office for Civil Rights complaint, or due process complaint.

When the school district refuses to accommodate requests from parents for an independent educational evaluation, they must initiate a due process hearing. In this hearing, a hearing officer will make the final decision on whether the school’s evaluation was appropriate. Schools cannot cause unreasonable delays in scheduling and paying for IEEs, and they must adhere to legal timelines.

If parents disagree with the findings of the school’s evaluation, they have the right to request an independent educational evaluation (IEE) through proper channels.

IEP team meeting with parents and educators - what is an iee

Why Choose Bridges of the Mind for Your Child’s IEE

At Bridges of the Mind Psychological Services, our approach to Independent Educational Evaluations is comprehensive, compassionate, and effective. Our team of experienced psychologists specializes in neurodevelopmental assessments that provide clear answers and actionable recommendations.

Our Assessment Philosophy

We believe in looking beyond labels to understand each child’s unique learning profile. Our evaluations:

Our Specialized Services

Our practice offers comprehensive evaluations for:

Who We Serve

Our team works with:

We address a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and learning disabilities.

Our California Locations

With our convenient location, we serve families throughout:

The Bridges of the Mind Difference

What sets our practice apart:

Taking the Next Step

Navigating the educational system can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re concerned about your child’s educational progress or disagree with a school evaluation, an Independent Educational Evaluation might provide the insights and documentation needed to secure appropriate support.

Our team at Bridges of the Mind Psychological Services is ready to partner with you in this journey. We provide thorough evaluations that meet district criteria while offering the depth and insight that school evaluations sometimes lack due to time and resource constraints.

For more information about our Independent Educational Evaluation services or to schedule a consultation, please reach out to our team. We’re here to help you navigate this process and advocate effectively for your child’s educational future.

Contact us today to learn more about how an Independent Educational Evaluation can help your child receive the educational support they deserve. While we don’t discuss specific pricing on our website, our team can provide detailed information about evaluation costs and insurance options during your initial consultation.

The Path Forward: Advocating for Your Child’s Educational Success

Advocating for your child’s education is rarely straightforward. It requires patience, documentation, and sometimes the courage to challenge a school system that may not initially recognize your child’s unique learning profile. But the results—a more appropriate educational plan tailored to your child’s specific needs—make every step worthwhile.

Remember these essential takeaways as you move forward:

  1. Trust your instincts: If you sense something isn’t right with your child’s educational experience, your observations are valuable and worth exploring. If you’re still wondering “what is an IEE?” remember it’s your right to seek this second opinion.
  2. Know your rights: The legal protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act provide you with specific options when you disagree with school evaluations. Understanding special education laws empowers you to advocate effectively.
  3. Document everything: Keep organized records of all communications, evaluations, and observations to support your advocacy efforts. This documentation is crucial if you need to request an IEE at public expense.
  4. Focus on specific needs: Rather than getting caught up in diagnostic labels, concentrate on the specific supports and services your child requires. The goal of the special education process is to ensure your child receives appropriate educational services.
  5. Build partnerships: Try to work collaboratively with school staff while firmly advocating for appropriate services. Effective communication with your child’s school can often prevent the need for due process hearings.
  6. Seek professional support: Working with experienced evaluators who understand both the public education system and your child’s unique needs can make the advocacy process more effective.

At Bridges of the Mind Psychological Services, we’re committed to helping families navigate this journey. Our comprehensive evaluations provide the insights and documentation needed to secure appropriate educational support, allowing your child to develop confidence and skills to navigate their world in their own unique way.

The path to appropriate educational support isn’t always easy, but with the right independent evaluation and advocacy approach, it can lead to transformative outcomes for your child’s academic success and emotional well-being. An Independent Educational Evaluation isn’t just a document—it’s a powerful tool for creating positive change in your child’s educational experience and ensuring they receive a free appropriate public education.

Facebook-f Instagram
Contact Us
Our Locations
2424 Arden Way #8 Sacramento, CA 95825
924 Emerald Bay Dr. Suite E, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
6203 San Ignacio Ave. Suite 108 San Jose, CA 95119
Quick Links
© 2025 Bridges of the Mind Psychological Services Inc. |

This website was crafted with care by Strong Roots Web Design. | Privacy Policy and Terms of Service