Independent Educational Evaluations
How to Request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)
If your child was evaluated by your local school district within the past two years, you may be eligible to request an IEE at no cost to you. This request must be submitted in writing by letter or email to your school district. An IEE provides families with access to expert, third-party evaluations conducted by qualified professionals—such as licensed educational psychologists, speech-language pathologists, or occupational therapists. These evaluations can offer a more in-depth and objective understanding of your child’s strengths and areas of need as they relate to school-based functioning. Families may request an IEE when they disagree with the results of a school district’s evaluation—whether in part or in full. If you believe the district’s evaluation lacks validity, reliability, or comprehensiveness, you have the right to request that an IEE be conducted at public expense.
To begin the process:
- Write a letter to the Director of Special Education at your local school district.
- Clearly state that you are requesting an Independent Educational Evaluation.
- Provide or reference any supporting documentation (e.g., notes, prior reports, written concerns) that demonstrates your disagreement with the district's evaluation or recommendations.
Please note:
- The more thorough and evidence-based your request, the stronger your case. While approval is not guaranteed, the district is legally required to respond in writing within 10 calendar days.
- Comprehensive private evaluations can be costly, and school districts are not obligated to reimburse parents for evaluations obtained independently without prior approval. We offer priority consideration to IEE requests resulting from school district.
- If your child is enrolled in a school district within Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, San Diego, or Los Angeles counties, we invite you to connect with us. On-site, virtual or in-home assessments can be arranged with advance notice.
What is Unique About Our Evaluations
Every child has the legal right to a nondiscriminatory psychological and educational evaluations. At IEE4KIDS, our multi-lingual, multi-disciplinary team of providers offer comprehensive Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) that thoughtfully consider the impact of culture, language development, trauma, and environmental factors on a child's learning. We offer bilingual speech-language and occupational therapy evaluations when a psychological IEE has been granted, allowing us to focus on the whole-child. Our team offers deep insight in dual language acquisition and immersion, and how culture and experience can influence educational performance. All of our evaluations are compliant with IDEIA 2004, grounded in neuro-developmental principles, and designed to be both defensible and meaningful. While we primarily serve Southern California school districts, we are also available to support districts throughout Central and Northern California with prior district approval.
Why might you need an IEE?
The provision of a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for every student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a federal mandate. In the same way, federal law guarantees that every child with a suspected disability is entitled to a fair, nondiscriminatory, and unbiased educational evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services. Under the "Child Find" mandate, public school districts are legally required to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities who may need specialized educational support within their jurisdiction. A thorough assessment of a student’s neuropsychological strengths and challenges is essential to understanding how a child learns best. An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) provides critical insights into a child’s learning profile, helping families and schools make informed, unbiased decisions about the educational services, supports, and therapies most appropriate to meet the student’s individual needs.
Our Unique Evaluations
What is a Neuro-Psychoeducational Evaluation?
A neuro-psychoeducational evaluation is an advanced form of psychoeducational assessment that incorporates neuropsychological principles and data to provide a deeper understanding of a student’s learning profile. Unlike traditional evaluations, our evaluations allow for the inclusion of DSM-5 diagnoses when appropriate, which may support disability identification and service planning. This evaluation may be used in the same way as standard psychoeducational evaluations but must be conducted by a qualified professional, like a Diplomate of the American Board of School Neuropsychology. Our evaluations align with California Department of Education guidelines and best practice recommendations, integrating all available educational and clinical information to inform decisions related to eligibility, FAPE, and access to the least restrictive environment. Neuropsychological measures are selectively used to improve the overall validity, reliability, and utility of findings.
At IEE4KIDS, LLC, Independent Educational Evaluations are conducted with complete professional independence from school district opinions. Our evaluator provides expert, unbiased conclusions grounded in objective, valid, and reliable interpretations of neuropsychoeducational, language, psychomotor, behavioral and developmental data. These evaluations are further supported by experience in education, therapy, and research over the past 30 years across the areas of mild to severe/profound disabilities, early childhood development, linguistically diverse education, and trauma-informed assessment. Our evaluator maintains rigorous training and licensure through national and state boards, and regularly consults with leaders in pediatric and school neuropsychology. You can trust that your child’s evaluation will be held to the highest standards of quality and professional integrity. Our comprehensive assessments are multidisciplinary, and are designed to be legally defensible and to empower families with clear, evidence-based recommendations to support access to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and the development of a meaningful, individualized education program (IEP).
Bilingual Speech & Language IEEs
We specialize in bilingual speech and language Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) that are culturally and linguistically responsive. Our evaluations may conducted by bilingual, licensed speech-language pathologists who understand the complexities of dual language development. We distinguish between language differences and language disorders, ensuring that students are accurately identified and supported based on valid, research-based practices. This is essential in making appropriate service recommendations for multilingual learners.
Culturally-Responsive Occupational Therapy IEEs
Our Occupational Therapy Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) are carefully designed to assess fine motor, sensory processing, self-help, and classroom participation skills within the context of each student’s cultural and linguistic background. These evaluations are conducted by bilingual and/or culturally-responsive licensed occupational therapists that recognize that cultural norms and exposure can shape how children approach tasks like handwriting, self-care routines, sensory responses, and classroom behaviors. By distinguishing between true developmental delays and differences rooted in culture or exposure, we offer meaningful, functional recommendations that support student independence and active participation across school settings.