Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) in Alaska
How do you get an independent educational evaluation (IEE) in Alaska?
Parents in Alaska have the right to obtain an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense if they disagree with the evaluation conducted by the district, consistent with 4 AAC 52.520(f) and 34 CFR 300.502. Upon a parent's request for an IEE, the district must either fund the IEE or initiate a due process hearing to defend the appropriateness of its evaluation. The district must provide parents with information about where an IEE may be obtained. If the district initiates a due process hearing and the hearing officer determines the district's evaluation is appropriate, the parent still has the right to obtain an IEE but not at public expense. An IEE obtained at public expense must be considered by the district in any decision regarding the student's education. If the parent obtains an IEE at their own expense and presents it at an IEP meeting or due process hearing, the district must consider that evaluation. The IEE must be conducted by a qualified evaluator who meets district criteria for qualifications, but the district cannot impose restrictive criteria that would limit the parent's ability to select an evaluator.
What Alaska Requires
Parents have the right to request an IEE at public expense if they disagree with the district's evaluation (4 AAC 52.520(f); 34 CFR 300.502(b)).
Upon a parent's request, the district must either fund the IEE without undue delay or initiate a due process hearing to defend the appropriateness of its evaluation (34 CFR 300.502(b)(2)).
The district must provide parents with information about where an IEE may be obtained (34 CFR 300.502(a)(2)).
An IEE obtained at public expense must be considered by the IEP team in making any decisions regarding the student (34 CFR 300.502(c)).
The district may set criteria for IEEs (e.g., evaluator qualifications, location), but these criteria may not be so restrictive as to deny parents a meaningful choice of evaluator (34 CFR 300.502(e)).
Key Timelines
The district must respond to a parent's IEE request promptly — either by agreeing to fund the IEE or filing for due process (34 CFR 300.502(b)(2)).
There is no set timeline for how quickly an IEE must be completed, but undue delays by the district in responding are not permitted.
An IEE may be requested at any time when a parent disagrees with a district evaluation, including at any point after an initial evaluation or reevaluation.