9 Facts About Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs)
An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is a private evaluation to assess a student for learning differences or disabilities. IEEs are conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the student’s school. While there are other forms of testing that school districts provide, IEEs allow for increased parental involvement, an objective second opinion, and more comprehensive testing methods. IEEs are a great tool for both families and schools to determine a student’s best educational options.
Could an IEE strengthen your kid’s academic future? Here are 9 facts on the benefits of IEEs:
1. “IEE” has more than one meaning
Public school meaning: The term IEE originated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), referring to the private assessments that school districts are legally obligated to pay for if their district is unable to meet a student’s testing needs. When parents disagree with a school’s internal testing methods or conclusions, they can request a private evaluation (IEE) at the public’s expense.
Private school meaning: The term IEE is also used to broadly describe any private educational testing. Home schooling or private school parents can seek a 3rd party IEE without any public district involvement.
2. They provide an objective opinion
When a student has a condition that impacts their learning, schools will often conduct an evaluation to assess the child’s needs and determine which services they qualify for. However, schools don’t always agree to testing, and when they do, they don’t always get it right. Sometimes they use outdated methods, insufficient tests, incorrect data, or underqualified staff. Other times they test correctly, but come to inappropriate conclusions. When parents disagree with the school’s findings or eligibility decisions, an IEE provides an objective second opinion that can lead to a better education plan.
College students can benefit from IEE’s too! Click here to learn about graduate exam accommodations & how we can help
3. They are quicker than district tests
If your student’s academic needs aren’t being met, you want solutions right away. Unfortunately, it can take months of frustrating meetings to even get the school to agree that testing is necessary. If and when they do agree, testing can take another 2 months to complete. This can make your September request go unfulfilled until January or later, wasting half an academic year as your child struggles. A major benefit of IEEs is you can usually schedule them quickly with a private evaluator. IEE results are generally given to families 2-3 weeks after testing concludes, making them a much faster option in addressing your child’s needs
4. They are more thorough than most
IEEs can give a thorough report of a student’s abilities and challenges, or they can be focused on testing for a single issue, such as disabilities in reading or math, executive functioning issues, or autism spectrum disorder. Either way, IEE evaluators tend to use more current and comprehensive testing methods than districts can typically offer. IEEs may analyze a variety of measures including:
Educational records (e.g., IEP, report cards)
Medical records
Psychological and/or psycho-educational tests
Cognitive testing
Executive functioning
Adaptive functioning
Achievement testing
Education-related mental health assessments
District placement observation(s)
Alternative placement observation(s)
5. Parents are involved throughout
Like IEE evaluators, schools usually involve parents in discussing their concerns before testing takes place. However, schools often fail to include parents in deciding which test(s) are needed for their child, leaving those decisions up to an internal evaluator. IEEs, on the other hand, involve parents every step of the way. After discussing assessment options with the evaluator, parents have control over which tests they would like administered and can choose to add or omit tests as the evaluation progresses. This collaboration helps the evaluator better understand the student’s needs, while improving parents’ awareness of test findings.
6. Your kid’s results can stay confidential
When schools provide internal evaluations, they see results before the parents and those results are added to the student’s academic record. Since school evaluators are employed by the district, their results are at risk of being biased. It’s troubling to have potentially inaccurate results being observable to your child’s educators. A benefit of private evaluations is that parents are the first to learn the results and are not required to share them with the school unless they choose to. However, if the IEE is paid for by the district, results are released to both parents and the school at the same time. For this reason, parents often privately seek IEEs before involving the district.
7. They can improve IEP/504 success
IEE evaluators prepare detailed reports of their findings that are used to inform your child’s education team. The IEE report includes:
The tests that were administered
Test results
A statement on how these impairments affect the student’s learning
Recommendations for accommodations, services, and appropriate educational placement
While schools are not required to accept or follow the recommendations of the IEE, they are required to take them into consideration for the child’s IEP/504 plan.
8. They are administered by education experts
IEEs can be conducted by educational psychologists, clinical psychologists, or neuropsychologists. Your child’s school might offer you a list of recommended evaluators, but you are not required to use their referrals. Our doctors are experts in Educational Psychology and can provide your child or teen with a comprehensive IEE.
9. Financial responsibility can vary
There are multiple paths to receiving an IEE, and who ends up being financially responsible depends on several factors. Most IEEs end up being covered in one of four ways:
Parents front the costs: Parents may privately seek and pay for an IEE before involving the district, as this allows the most privacy before deciding whether they want IEE results shared with the school. If the parent chooses to share IEE findings, they can request reimbursement from the district. However, there is no guarantee that the district will agree to pay.
The district covers the costs: If the district agrees that an IEE is necessary, or if a due process hearing determines the district to be liable before testing has occurred, the district will pay for the IEE. In such cases, the parent chooses the IEE evaluator and the district is billed directly so that parents never have to pay out of pocket.
Looking for an IEE evaluator? Variations Psychology meets the criteria for district covered IEEs. Click here to schedule your consultation to learn how we can help.
Parents cover the costs: If a district is not found liable to pay for testing, parents will often cover the costs themselves. Parents of private school students often elect to pay for 3rd party testing, as they may not want public district involvement and prefer the privacy of using an outside evaluator rather than their school’s psychologist.
Insurance underwrites: In some cases, health insurance will partially cover testing costs. This depends on the family’s healthcare policy, as well as the condition(s) being tested for. While Variations Psychology does not bill insurance providers directly, families can seek pre-approval or reimbursement through a superbill.
10. Their support goes beyond reports
Walking into an IEP or 504 meeting can be intimidating, especially if you and the faculty don’t see eye to eye. Some IEE evaluators offer on-campus support to explain findings to the education team and provide recommendations on behalf of the student. Our IEE services can include a 2-hour meeting with the school to promote your student’s best interests.
Click here to learn more about IEEs at Variations Psychology
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If a loved one has a learning difference or other condition that impacts their mental health and education, you may feel lost in determining the best ways to support them.
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More about Variations Psychology
Variations Psychology is a group practice specializing in diagnostic testing to identify psychological conditions. Our primary focus is Educational Psychology, guiding families on beneficial pathways toward student success and training educators in effective strategies to maximize student potential.
Our comprehensive evaluations test for conditions that impact mental health and development such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, learning disorders, and developmental delays.
In addition to diagnostic services, we offer Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) of K-12 students to assess needs for accommodations in school and determine their appropriate placements. IEEs provide an objective second opinion on existing IEP and 504 Plans.
For K-12 and post-secondary students, we offer evaluations to assess needs for accommodations on standardized tests, college entrance exams (e.g. - SAT, ACT, AP Exams), and graduate and professional licensing exams (e.g. - MCAT, LSAT, GRE, CBEST, NCLEX, GMAT, CA Cosmetology Exam, CA Contractors State Licensing Exam, CA Bar Exam). Schedule your consultation to learn how our diagnostic services can support you and your family.
Variations Psychology is located in Newport Beach, CA and provides psychological testing to residents throughout Orange County and its surrounding areas including Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Irvine, Shady Canyon, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Coto de Caza, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Yorba Linda, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Pelican Hill, Crystal Cove, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Lake Forest, Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach, Seal Beach, and more.
References:
Lightner, L. (2020) IEE Independent Education Evaluations. When, Why, & How to Request One. A Day in Our Shoes. Retrieved from https://adayinourshoes.com/iee-independent-education-evaluation/
Morin, A. (n.d.) Private Evaluations: What You Need to Know. Understood.org. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/evaluations/evaluation-basics/outside-evaluations-the-difference-between-private-and-independent
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Sec. 300.502 Independent Educational Evaluation (2017). U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/e/300.502
Right to Obtain an Independent Educational Evaluation (2017). Center for Parent Information & Resources. Retrieved from https://www.parentcenterhub.org/iee/
Shinn. M.M. (2020). Could I Have ADHD or Executive Functioning Issues? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/could-i-have-adhd-or-executive-functioning-issues
Shinn. M.M. (2019). Could My Teen Have Autism? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/could-my-teen-have-autism
Shinn. M.M. (2018). Graduate Student’s Guide to Test Accommodations: The LSAT. MCAT, GRE, NCLEX, CBEST, GMAT, Cosmetology Exam, Contractor’s Exam, and Bar Exam. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/graduate-students-guide-to-test-accommodations
Shinn. M.M. (2018). I Can’t Spell Dyslexia – Do I Have It?. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/i-cant-spell-dyslexia-do-i-have-it
Shinn. M.M. (2019). Understanding Education Plans: A Parent’s Guide to 504s and IEPs. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/understanding-education-plans-a-parents-guide-to-504s-and-ieps
Shinn. M.M. Understanding Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): A Parent’s Guide to Educational Placements). 2022. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/test-blog/understanding-least-restrictive-environment-lre-a-parents-guide-to-educational-placements
Shinn. M.M. (2019). Why Is My Kid Struggling So Much With Math? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/why-is-my-kid-struggling-so-much-with-math
Thurston, R.C. (2013). When is it Time to Request an Independent Educational Evaluation? Special Education Guide. Retrieved from https://www.specialeducationguide.com/blog/when-is-it-time-to-request-an-independent-educational-evaluation-iee/
How to Cite This Blog Article:
Shinn. M.M. (2022). 9 Facts About Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs).Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/9-facts-about-independent-educational-evaluations-iees