How do I request an independent educational evaluation (IEE)?

Write to the school that you disagree with its evaluation and are requesting an IEE at public expense. You don’t have to explain why. Without unnecessary delay, the school must either pay for an outside evaluator or ask for a hearing to defend its own testing. You get one publicly funded IEE for each school evaluation you disagree with.

What to do

Read the school’s evaluation report and note what you disagree with — an area that was not tested, a result that does not match what you see at home, or a conclusion you cannot follow.
Send a short written request saying you disagree with the evaluation (name its date) and are requesting an IEE at public expense. Giving a reason is optional.
34 CFR § 300.502(b)(1), (b)(4)
In the same letter, ask for the school’s IEE criteria and a list of where an IEE can be obtained. The school must provide both when you ask.
34 CFR § 300.502(a)(2)
Choose a qualified evaluator who meets those criteria and is not employed by the school. When the report is ready, share it with the team.
34 CFR § 300.502(a)(3)(i), (e)

What the law says

You have the right to an IEE at public expense if you disagree with an evaluation the school obtained.
34 CFR § 300.502(b)(1)
Without unnecessary delay, the school must either make sure the IEE is provided at public expense or file a due process complaint to show its own evaluation is appropriate.
34 CFR § 300.502(b)(2)
The school may ask why you object to its evaluation, but it may not require an explanation.
34 CFR § 300.502(b)(4)
The school can hold a publicly funded IEE to the same criteria it uses for its own evaluations, such as location and examiner qualifications, but may not add other conditions or timelines.
34 CFR § 300.502(e)
You are entitled to one IEE at public expense each time the school conducts an evaluation you disagree with, and the school must consider the results if the IEE meets its criteria.
34 CFR § 300.502(b)(5), (c)(1)

Ready to put it in writing? The letter tool's “Request for Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)” template is written for this.

Write This Letter

Common questions

Does an IEE cost me anything?

Not when it is at public expense — the school either pays the full cost or arranges it at no cost to you. If the school instead goes to a hearing and the hearing officer finds its evaluation appropriate, you can still get an IEE, but you would pay for it yourself.

Can I choose who does the IEE?

Within the school’s criteria, yes. The evaluator cannot work for the school, and the school can ask that they meet the same qualification and location rules it applies to its own evaluators. Getting the criteria in writing before you book avoids a dispute later.

Does the school have to follow what the IEE recommends?

It has to consider the results, not adopt them. An IEE that meets the school’s criteria must be taken into account in decisions about your child’s program, and either side can present it at a hearing. A clear, specific report gives the team more to work with.

What if I already paid for a private evaluation?

You can still share it. A private evaluation you paid for must also be considered if it meets the school’s criteria. Whether you can be reimbursed depends on the circumstances, so raise it with the school in writing and keep your receipts.