What Is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) and How to Get One

When your school evaluates your child and you disagree with the results — or believe the evaluation missed something important — you are not required to simply accept it. Under federal law, you have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation, commonly called an IEE.

An IEE is an evaluation conducted by a qualified professional who is not employed by the school district. In most cases, the school is required to pay for it. And the results must be considered by your child's IEP team.

This is one of the most powerful and underused rights in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Here is how it works, when to use it, and how to request one.

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What Is an Independent Educational Evaluation?

An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is a full evaluation of your child performed by a qualified examiner who is not affiliated with the school district. It covers the same areas as a school evaluation — cognitive ability, academic achievement, speech and language, occupational therapy, behavior, or whatever is relevant to your child's needs — but from an independent perspective.

The key distinction is who conducts it. An IEE is performed by someone the parent selects, not someone chosen by the school.

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When Can You Request an IEE?

You can request an IEE anytime you disagree with an evaluation conducted by your school district. IDEA does not require you to explain or justify your disagreement in detail — simply stating that you disagree is sufficient to trigger your rights.

Common reasons parents request IEEs include:

• The school evaluation found the child ineligible for special education services, but you believe the child has unmet needs
• The evaluation identified a disability but you believe it missed additional or more significant needs
• The evaluation's scores or conclusions do not match what you observe at home or what outside providers report
• The evaluation was conducted by someone who did not have adequate time with or knowledge of your child
• A private provider (speech therapist, psychologist, developmental pediatrician) has raised concerns not reflected in the school's findings

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Who Pays for the IEE?

In most cases, the school district must pay for the IEE — or reimburse you for the cost — when you request one after disagreeing with the district's evaluation. This is one of the most significant aspects of this right.

There are two exceptions:

1. The school holds a due process hearing and demonstrates that its own evaluation was appropriate. If a hearing officer agrees with the school, the district is no longer required to pay for the independent evaluation.

2. You request an IEE at your own expense without notifying the school. You are always free to obtain a private evaluation independently and at your own cost. However, to trigger the district's obligation to pay, you must formally request a publicly funded IEE after a district evaluation you disagree with.

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How to Request an IEE

Step 1: Submit your request in writing.

Send a written request to your school's special education director or your child's case manager. State that you disagree with the school's evaluation and are requesting an Independent Educational Evaluation at public expense under IDEA.

Your letter should include:

• Your child's name and school
• The date of the school's evaluation you are disagreeing with
• A clear statement that you are requesting an IEE at public expense
• Your contact information

Keep a copy of your letter and send it in a way that creates a record — email with a read receipt, certified mail, or hand delivery with a signed receipt.

Step 2: Wait for the district's response.

After receiving your request, the school district must do one of two things, without unnecessary delay:

• Provide the IEE at public expense, including giving you information about where to obtain one; or
• File for a due process hearing to defend its own evaluation as appropriate.

If the school wants to challenge your request, it must initiate due process promptly. It cannot simply ignore your request or delay indefinitely.

Step 3: Select your evaluator.

If the district agrees to fund the IEE, they may provide a list of approved evaluators. You are not required to choose from this list in all states — check your state's specific rules. The evaluator must meet the same qualifications the district requires of its own examiners.

If you already have an evaluator in mind, you can propose them to the district. The district can set reasonable criteria for qualification, but cannot unreasonably restrict your choice.

Step 4: Participate fully in the evaluation.

Once the evaluation is scheduled, participate actively. Provide background information, previous records, and your own observations. The evaluator's report will be stronger with your input.

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What Happens After the IEE?

The results must be considered. Once an IEE is completed — whether funded by the district or paid for by the parent — the IEP team is required to consider the results when making decisions about your child's eligibility, goals, and services. The school does not have to agree with the IEE's conclusions, but it cannot simply ignore them.

You can present the IEE at any IEP meeting. Request an IEP meeting to discuss the IEE results. Come prepared with the report and any recommendations made by the independent evaluator.

The IEE may support requests for more services. If the independent evaluation identifies needs the school's evaluation missed, you can use that data to request additional goals, services, or a change in placement.

You can submit the IEE as evidence in a due process hearing. If you ever need to pursue formal dispute resolution, an IEE conducted by an independent qualified professional is powerful evidence.

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What to Do If the School Delays or Refuses

If the school does not respond to your request in a reasonable time, or refuses to fund the IEE without filing for due process, those actions may constitute a procedural violation of IDEA.

Your options include:

• Sending a follow-up letter documenting the lack of response
• Filing a state complaint with your state's department of education
• Consulting a special education advocate or attorney

Keep a written record of every communication. Dates and written correspondence matter if you need to escalate.

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One IEE Per Evaluation

IDEA provides the right to one IEE per school evaluation you disagree with. If the school conducts a new evaluation and you disagree with that one, you can request a new IEE. But you cannot request multiple IEEs in response to a single evaluation unless a hearing officer orders one.

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Explore More IEP Resources

• IEP vs 504: What's the Difference?
• Getting Started with Special Education
• Autism Hub
• ADHD Hub
• Down Syndrome Hub
• Dyslexia Hub

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Use Every Right You Have

The IEE is one of the most meaningful legal tools available to special education families — and one of the least understood. When the school's evaluation does not reflect your child's needs, you do not have to accept it. You can request an independent second opinion, at the school's expense, and bring those results back to the table.

The School Appeal Letter Templates from Special Clarity include a customizable IEE request letter — so you can submit a properly worded written request without guessing at the right language.

Once you have IEE results in hand, the IEP & ARD Paperwork Review Service can help you understand how the findings compare to what is in your child's current IEP and what to push for at your next meeting.

See all advocacy tools at Special Clarity →

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The information in this post is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. IEE rights are governed by IDEA and may be interpreted differently by individual states and school districts. If you believe your rights have been violated or need specific legal guidance, consult a qualified special education advocate or attorney in your state.