Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) in Oregon: A Parent's Guide
Understanding what an IEE is, when families may request one, who pays for it, and what happens next.
When a school evaluation doesn't seem to fully explain your child's needs, it can be difficult to know what to do next. You may still have questions about why your child is struggling, whether important areas were assessed, or whether the evaluation accurately reflects what you see at home and at school.
One option families may consider is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE).
For Oregon families navigating special education, understanding what an IEE is and what it isn't can make the process much less confusing.
What Is an Independent Educational Evaluation?
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), an Independent Educational Evaluation is an evaluation conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the public agency responsible for your child's education.
Parents may seek an independent evaluation when they disagree with an evaluation completed by their school district or other public agency.
For example, a family might have questions about whether:
all suspected areas of disability were adequately assessed;
the assessment methods captured the student's actual functioning;
the results adequately explain the difficulties the student is experiencing;
additional areas of functioning need closer examination; or
the existing evaluation provides enough information to understand the student's educational needs.
An IEE can provide another professional perspective and, when appropriate, additional information about a student's strengths, needs, educational functioning, and possible supports.
An IEE at Public Expense vs. a Privately Funded Evaluation
This distinction is important.
Parents can independently obtain a private evaluation using their own funds. Parents may also have the right to request an IEE at public expense when they disagree with an evaluation obtained by their child's public agency.
“Public expense” means the public agency pays the full cost of the evaluation or otherwise ensures that it is provided at no cost to the parent.
A privately funded evaluation does not require the district's prior approval. If parents share a privately obtained evaluation with the public agency and it meets applicable agency criteria, the agency must consider its results in decisions regarding the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE).
That does not necessarily mean the school team must agree with or adopt every conclusion or recommendation in an independent evaluation.
When Can a Parent Request an IEE at Public Expense?
Under IDEA, a parent has the right to request an IEE at public expense when the parent disagrees with an evaluation obtained by the public agency.
A parent does not have to prove that the school's evaluation was wrong before making the request.
The school district may ask why the parent disagrees with its evaluation, but IDEA does not require the parent to provide an explanation.
Parents are generally entitled to one IEE at public expense each time the public agency conducts an evaluation with which the parent disagrees.
What Happens After You Request an IEE?
This is an important part of the process that families sometimes misunderstand.
If you request an IEE at public expense, the public agency must, without unnecessary delay, either:
ensure that the IEE is provided at public expense; or
file a due process complaint requesting a hearing to demonstrate that its own evaluation was appropriate.
If the agency files for due process and the final decision is that its evaluation was appropriate, you may still obtain an independent evaluation, but the agency is not required to pay for it.
The agency must also provide information about where an IEE may be obtained and the criteria it uses for publicly funded IEEs.
Those criteria may address matters such as evaluator qualifications and location, but they must be consistent with the criteria the agency uses when conducting its own evaluations and with the parent's right to an IEE.
What Can an Independent Evaluation Assess?
There is no single testing battery that is appropriate for every student.
The scope of an independent evaluation should be driven by the questions that need to be answered and the student's individual circumstances.
Depending on the referral questions, an evaluation might examine areas such as:
cognitive functioning;
academic achievement;
attention and executive functioning;
social-emotional or behavioral functioning;
adaptive functioning; and
other areas relevant to the student's educational needs.
A thoughtful evaluation should do more than produce test scores. The goal is to integrate information across records, assessment data, observations, developmental and educational history, and other relevant sources to develop a meaningful picture of how the student learns and functions educationally.
What Happens When the IEE Is Finished?
If an IEE obtained at public expense meets agency criteria, the public agency must consider its results when making decisions regarding FAPE. The same consideration requirement applies when a parent obtains an evaluation privately, shares it with the public agency, and it meets applicable agency criteria.
Again, consideration does not mean automatic acceptance.
The school team may agree with some findings and disagree with others. A strong independent evaluation therefore shouldn't simply produce another collection of scores. It should clearly explain the findings, connect them to the student's educational functioning, and provide recommendations that the family and school team can meaningfully discuss.
Choosing an Independent Evaluator
The right evaluator depends on the questions you are trying to answer.
Parents may want to consider:
the evaluator's professional credentials and areas of expertise;
experience evaluating students with similar needs;
familiarity with special education evaluation and educational systems;
whether the evaluator integrates multiple sources of information rather than relying primarily on test scores;
whether reports clearly explain findings and educational implications; and
whether the evaluator's qualifications meet applicable district criteria when public funding is being requested.
Before beginning an evaluation, it can also be helpful to clarify the referral questions. What are you still trying to understand after reading the school's evaluation? The answer can help determine whether additional evaluation is warranted and, if so, what should actually be assessed.
How Educational Services Collective Approaches Independent Evaluations
Educational Services Collective provides independent psychoeducational evaluation and consultation services for families throughout Oregon.
For complex evaluation questions, I typically begin with a Record Review + Consultation. This allows me to review the student's existing evaluations and educational history, understand the family's concerns, and identify the questions that remain unanswered.
From there, we can determine whether additional evaluation appears appropriate and, if so, develop an individualized evaluation scope.
This approach helps avoid unnecessary or duplicative testing and ensures that any evaluation is designed around the questions that actually need answers.
Need Help Understanding Your Child's Evaluation?
If you've received a school evaluation but still aren't sure whether it adequately explains your child's needs, or you're considering requesting an IEE, I offer structured record review and consultation to help you understand the existing information and consider possible next steps.
Sources and Further Reading:
IDEA Section 300.502-Independent Educational Evaluation
