Independent Education Evaluation

Parents of children eligible for services under the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, at 20 U.S.C. §1400, et seq.) have the right to obtain an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) of their child if the parent disagrees with an evaluation obtained by the District. 34C.F.R. §300.502.

An IEE is defined as an evaluation conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the school district responsible for the education of the child in question. A neuropsychological evaluation is not a special education evaluation.

Parents may obtain an IEE at the expense of the District (public expense) or at their own expense (private expense). Public expense means that the District either pays for the full cost of the evaluation or ensures that the evaluation is otherwise provided at no cost to the parent. 34C.F.R. §300.502(a)(3).

If the District  has not performed its own evaluation, the parent does not have a right to an IEE until the District performs its own evaluation and the parent disagrees with the District's evaluation. Only one IEE may be funded for each evaluation obtained by the District. In addition, parents may be asked for  an explanation as to why they object to the District evaluation. However, parents are not required to provide an explanation as a condition to a District-funded IEE.

If the District will not provide an IEE at public expense, the District will initiate a special education due process hearing without unnecessary delay to show that the District evaluation is appropriate. If the final decision of the hearing is that the District evaluation is appropriate, the parents still have a right to an IEE, but not at the District expense. 34C.F.R. §300.502(b)(3).

For more information contact Exceptional Student Services at 480-541-1150.                     

Additional Information:

Raising Special Kids

NICHCY - Right to Obtain an Independent Educational Evaluation