Independent Educational Evaluation
What it means, where to look for it in the school record, and what to ask next.
What IEE means in the school record
IEE means Independent Educational Evaluation. In an IEP conversation, the practical question is what decision, service, support, or record this term affects for your child.
An IEE is an evaluation by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the school district. If you disagree with the district's evaluation and request an IEE at public expense, the district must, without unnecessary delay, either fund the IEE or file for a due process hearing to show its evaluation was appropriate. District evaluation criteria and the rule's other conditions apply.
Why it matters
An IEE can provide another evaluation perspective. Ask how the IEP team will consider the IEE results and how the district will respond to the request or disagreement.
What to do when you see IEE
Use this when you disagree with a school evaluation or need to understand how an outside evaluation may be considered by the IEP team.
Check This Record
- Identify the school evaluation you disagree with and the suspected area it missed.
- Ask for the district's IEE criteria and process in writing.
- If you already have an outside report, check how the IEP team considered its findings.
Red Flags
- The school asks for reasons before explaining its IEE process.
- The team ignores an outside evaluation without documenting consideration.
- The evaluation dispute is turning into a delay without written response.
Documents to Gather
- School evaluation
- IEE request
- District IEE criteria
- Outside evaluation
- PWN or due process notice
Sample Finding
The school evaluation did not assess written expression, but the student's work samples and teacher reports show ongoing written-output concerns.
What to Write
"Please provide the district's IEE criteria and explain in writing how the team will respond to my disagreement with the evaluation."
Who to Contact
Send evaluation questions to the principal, special education coordinator, or evaluation contact. Ask who receives formal parent evaluation requests in your district.
When to Get Local Help
Get qualified local help if this term affects discipline, safety, placement, graduation, evaluation refusal, service loss, complaint or due-process deadlines, or a state-specific timeline.
Privacy Note
Share only the IEP pages, evaluations, progress data, service logs, or school records needed for this question. Avoid broad medical history, extra student identifiers, or unrelated records when you ask for help.
Source check
This page is a plain-English guide and does not replace legal advice. Rules, timelines, and procedures vary by state, district, dispute posture, and the individual school record.