Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE): How to Request One at Public Expense

You sat through the eligibility meeting, read the report, and something didn't sit right. Maybe it missed the reading struggles you see every night, or it said your child "doesn't qualify" when you know how hard school has become. You're allowed to disagree, and the law gives you a specific tool for it: an independent educational evaluation, paid for by the school district.

What an IEE is

An IEE is an evaluation done by a qualified examiner who isn't employed by your school district. The federal rule is 34 CFR 300.502 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). "At public expense" means the district pays the full cost, or makes sure it's provided at no cost to you.

It's one of the strongest protections parents have, yet many families never hear about it. Schools are required to tell you about it in your procedural safeguards notice, the booklet that often gets handed over at meetings and quietly filed away.

When you can ask for one

• The district evaluated your child and you disagree with the results, conclusions or how it was done.
• The evaluation left out an area of concern, such as speech, occupational therapy, behavior or assistive technology.
• The school decided your child isn't eligible and you believe the testing was incomplete.
• A three-year reevaluation was done and you disagree with it.

If the school hasn't evaluated your child at all, start with a written request for an IEP evaluation. The public-expense right is tied to disagreeing with an evaluation the district actually did.

Step by step: requesting an IEE

1. Put it in writing. Email the special education director (copy the principal and case manager) saying you disagree with the evaluation and are requesting an IEE at public expense. Our Parent Rights Letter Builder can help.
2. Ask for the district's IEE criteria. Districts can set standards, such as evaluator credentials, location and reasonable cost limits, but they must match the standards for the district's own evaluators.
3. Watch for the response. The district must, without unnecessary delay, either agree to pay or file for a due process hearing to show its evaluation was appropriate. Some states set a firm number of days, so check your state's rules.
4. Choose an evaluator. You pick. A district list is a starting point, not a requirement, if someone else meets the criteria.
5. Share the results. Ask for an IEP meeting to review the report. The team must consider it when making decisions.

Sample IEE request letter

What the school can and can't do

If the school says no

A refusal has to come with Prior Written Notice explaining why, and the district must file for due process if it won't pay. If it does neither, you can file a complaint with your state education agency. Your state's Parent Training and Information Center can help for free; find yours through the Center for Parent Information and Resources.

Keep copies of every email and note the date of each reply. A calm, written paper trail is the most useful thing you can have if this turns into a dispute.

Making the most of the results

A good IEE report gives you concrete recommendations. Bring them to the meeting and connect each one to a goal or service. Our IEP Goal Generator and Accommodation Finder can help turn findings into draft language, and the IEP meeting checklist keeps the conversation on track. If the IEE points to ADHD-related focus needs, our ADHD focus guide covers home strategies too.

This guide explains general federal rules and is not legal advice. State rules and timelines vary, so check your state's procedural safeguards or speak with an advocate or attorney.

Frequently asked questions