In our last article we talked about objective evaluations and how useful they are. We also suggested even greater value can be obtained through getting an IEE.
What is an IEE?
An IEE is an evaluation you can get, by right, from an independent educational evaluator if you disagree with a school’s evaluations.
This is a key entitlement provided under the IDEA because unless parents have the right to obtain an IEE, the schools would effectively control all the information regarding your child’s education.
Who pays for the IEE? The school must, if the evaluation costs don’t exceed what is customary and usual in your school’s geographic area.
If you disagree, do you have to explain why? No, the IDEA says an explanation isn’t necessary, only that you state your disagreement. We suggest expressing something vague, but polite, like the testing doesn’t paint a picture of the child you see at home.
Can the school refuse to provide an IEE? Yes, however they must file a due process case against you to prove why their testing is adequate. This means they need to engage a lawyer and bear the burden of proof, which is inevitably more expensive than simply paying for the evaluations. So, they almost never refuse. They cannot simply say no—they must file for due process.
Must you use a school approved evaluator? No, but the evaluator you choose must have at least the qualifications that a school evaluator has. Don’t worry! Typically, independent evaluators must have a higher certifications or degrees than those employed by school systems to administer tests.
Why would you want to subject your child to two sets of tests? Because almost invariably the IEE will be more nuanced, more detailed, and contain many more recommendations than the schools’ testing will. In addition, the IEE serves as a verification (or a rebuttal) of the schools’ evaluations. Also, you don’t have to have the IEE administered right away. A request can be made, then kept in reservation to have them done after a reasonable amount of time has passed, using them as a measure of progress achieved since the date of the schools’ evaluations. We can brainstorm with you to determine the optimal time to have the IEEs conducted.
Once a school does their evaluations, always ask for IEEs.
You’ll be glad you did.
