What is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) and when might a parent request one?

• A. An internal district review of evaluation with no public funding
• B. An annual district performance report
• C. A parent-initiated curriculum change plan
• D. An evaluation at public expense if the parent disagrees with the district's evaluation; can request at any time during the process

Answer: (D)

An Independent Educational Evaluation is a second, outside assessment of a child’s abilities and needs conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the school district, and it is paid for by the public agency when the parent disagrees with the district’s evaluation. This independent evaluation gives families an objective perspective to inform decisions about eligibility, services, and goals for the IEP. The important point is that parents have the right to request this evaluation at public expense if they don’t agree with the district’s results, and they can make that request at any point during the evaluation or IEP process. It’s not about internal district reviews, annual performance reports, or curriculum-change plans.