Parents of a student eligible for special education have a right to request an IEE at public expense. When parents request an IEE, the district must provide parents a list of district criteria applicable to IEEs and a list of evaluators from whom an IEE may be obtained. Both lists are also available upon request from the special services department. The district must decide within 15 calendar days of the parents' request whether it agrees to provide an IEE at public expense. Any parent request for an independent evaluation should be immediately referred to the special services administrators. The special services director shall review the request and determine whether or not the request is warranted. If the district agrees to provide an IEE at public expense, parents may either obtain an IEE and submit invoices for reimbursement or as the district to enter into a contract to facilitate direct payment to the IEE provider.

If the district denies the request to pay for an IEE, it must file for a due process hearing within 15 calendar days of the parent’s request. The district may request mediation as an option after filing the due process hearing. If the parents withdraw their request for an IEE the due process hearing can be dismissed.

If the school district initiates a hearing and a decision is made that the district's evaluation is appropriate, the parents still have the right to an IEE, but not at a pubic expense. The parents are only entitled to one IEE at public expense each time the district conducts an evaluation with which the parents disagree.

If the parents obtain an IEE at either public or private expense, any results of the IEE must be considered by the district in any decision made with respect to the provision of FAPE to the student. The IEE may also be presented as evidence at a hearing regarding the student.

*See the Special Education Terms & Definitions page for more information.

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