Arc Guide to Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)

An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is an evaluation conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the public agency responsible for the education of the child.

When must the school provide an IEE at public expense?

A parent has the right to an independent educational evaluation (or re-evaluation) at public expense if the parent disagrees with an evaluation obtained by the school.

Public expense means that the school pays for the full cost of the assessment or ensures that the assessment is provided at no cost to the parent.

How do I request an IEE? What do I do?

Tell the school you want an IEE. It is beneficial to state why you think the school’s evaluation was inappropriate. However, you are not required to provide an explanation
Tell the school you are requesting an IEE. Specify in what area(s) you are requesting an IEE – educational, functional behavioral, etc.
The school must grant your request within a reasonable amount of time or file a request for a due process hearing to show that their evaluation is appropriate.
Request information about where an IEE can be obtained. The school should have a list. The list should include the location and qualifications of examiners. The criteria must be the same criteria that the school uses for its evaluators.
You do not have to select a name from the school’s list. The criteria that the school uses for its evaluators should be used in the selection of an independent evaluator.
Inform the school who will be doing the IEE.

Additional information

A parent is allowed only one IEE each time the school conducts an evaluation
The results of the IEE must be considered by the school when providing a free, appropriate public education to the student
Parents cannot refuse to allow the school to evaluate the student and require the school to pay for an IEE
The school cannot limit access to educators or the school environment by the independent evaluator
The school cannot reject the parent’s choice of the independent evaluator if the person meets the district’s criteria
The school cannot dictate the IEE plan or scope
The school can include reasonable cost criteria with their information on IEE.

For further information or advocacy services, contact The Arc Minnesota at 952-920-0855 or toll-free at 833.450.1494 or visit www.arcminnesota.org. (Please note: This document is not legal advice, and should not be construed as such. Thus, no information herein should replace the sound advice of an attorney.)