Independent Educational Evaluation

An independent perspective when additional answers are needed.

An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is a comprehensive evaluation completed by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the school district responsible for the original evaluation. Families may seek an IEE for a variety of reasons, including obtaining a second opinion, clarifying complex findings, or gaining additional insight into a student’s learning, development, and educational needs.

As both a practicing school psychologist and a clinical psychologist, I understand the evaluation process from multiple perspectives. My goal is to provide a thorough, objective, and individualized evaluation that answers the referral questions and provides practical recommendations to support educational planning.

Having experience within both public schools and private practice allows me to understand educational evaluations from multiple perspectives while maintaining an objective, independent approach to every evaluation.

Areas Commonly Assessed

Every IEE is individualized. The areas assessed depend on the referral questions, previous evaluations, educational records, and the specific concerns being addressed.

📚 Academic Achievement
Evaluates reading, writing, mathematics, and oral language skills to understand current academic performance and identify learning strengths and areas needing support.

⚙ Executive Functioning & Attention
Assesses attention, organization, planning, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and self-monitoring when these areas are relevant to the referral questions.

❤️ Social, Emotional & Behavioral Functioning
Evaluates emotional well-being, behavior, adaptive functioning, and social functioning when appropriate to the referral questions.

🧠 Intellectual Functioning
Assesses reasoning, problem-solving, memory, processing speed, and other cognitive abilities to better understand an individual’s learning profile.

🧩 Learning Processes
May include assessment of phonological processing, orthographic processing, memory, processing speed, visual-motor integration, and other cognitive processes that support learning.

📄 Educational Records Review
A careful review of previous evaluations, school records, intervention history, eligibility documentation, and educational progress helps place current findings into context and guides interpretation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)?

An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is a comprehensive evaluation completed by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the school district responsible for the original evaluation. The purpose is to provide an independent opinion regarding a student’s educational needs.

When should a family consider an IEE?

Families may seek an IEE when they would like an independent perspective, have questions about a previous evaluation, need clarification regarding eligibility or recommendations, or believe additional assessment may provide a more complete understanding of their child’s needs.

Will you review previous school evaluations?

Yes. Previous evaluations, educational records, intervention history, and other relevant documentation are carefully reviewed as part of the evaluation process. Understanding the student’s educational history helps ensure recommendations are well informed and individualized.

Can an IEE be used by the school?

Yes. Families may choose to share the completed evaluation with their child’s school. School districts are required to consider the findings of an Independent Educational Evaluation, although educational decisions remain the responsibility of the school team.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re looking for a deeper understanding of your child’s strengths, challenges, and learning profile, I’d be happy to help. The first step is a complimentary 15-minute consultation where we can discuss your concerns and determine whether a comprehensive evaluation is the right fit.

Schedule a Complimentary Consultation