Parents of children with special educational needs have a lot of different things that they must consider. One of these is an independent educational evaluation, which is often referred to as an IEE. This is an important step in some assessments of students who have a disability.
Once a school conducts an assessment of a student who has a disability, the parents have a legal right to request that an evaluation be conducted by a qualified examiner who isn’t a school district employee. This is meant to provide a second perspective on the student’s educational needs and provide an impartial conclusion about whether the existing services are appropriate for the student. The IEE is paid for by the district; however, it is possible for the district to initiate a due process hearing to show that the initial assessment was appropriate.
How does the IEE process work?
In California, the IEE process is set based on guidance from the California Department of Education, which follows the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This approach balances the parents’ participation in the process with accountability for the district. The goal is to keep the focus on giving children what they need for the most appropriate education possible instead of having parents and students deal with never-ending procedural hurdles.
When parents request an IEE, they don’t have to provide a reason for disagreeing with the district’s assessment. The district must respond quickly to the request, and they should have set criteria and procedures for making the IEE happen that don’t impede on parents’ rights to have one done.
In California, parents have very specific rights related to their child’s education, but they sometimes need assistance in upholding those rights. Working with someone familiar with these matters may be beneficial, so the parents can ensure they know those rights and focus on getting their children the education they need.