Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) in Minnesota
How do you get an independent educational evaluation (IEE) in Minnesota?
Minnesota parents have the right to an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense, consistent with federal law (34 CFR 300.502) as implemented in Minnesota. If a parent disagrees with the district's evaluation, they may request an IEE at district expense. The district must either agree to fund the IEE or, within a reasonable time, file for due process to demonstrate that its evaluation was appropriate. In Minnesota, parents who disagree with an evaluation may also request a conciliation conference as a first step under Minn. Stat. § 125A.091, subd. 7. The conciliation conference requirement means that in practice the dispute over an evaluation is often addressed through conciliation before an IEE request escalates to formal due process. IEEs obtained at private expense must still be considered in any decisions about the student's special education. Parents have the right to request an evaluation even when the team determines no additional data are needed (Minn. R. 3525.2710, subp. 4). Minnesota parents may also record the IEP meeting in which IEE results are discussed without prior notice to the district (Minn. Stat. § 626A.02).
What Minnesota Requires
Parents are entitled to an IEE at public expense when they disagree with the district's evaluation; the district must either fund the IEE or file for due process to defend its evaluation (34 CFR 300.502(b)).
The district may ask but cannot require the parent to explain their objections to the district's evaluation (34 CFR 300.502(b)(4)).
In Minnesota, disputes over evaluations may be first addressed through the conciliation conference process before formal IEE or due process requests (Minn. Stat. § 125A.091, subd. 7).
When the IEP team determines no additional evaluation data are needed, parents must be notified and informed of their right to request evaluation (Minn. R. 3525.2710, subp. 4).
All IEEs, including those obtained at private expense, must be considered in decisions about special education services (34 CFR 300.502(c)).
Key Timelines
The district must either agree to the IEE or file for due process within a reasonable time of the parent's IEE request (34 CFR 300.502(b)(2)).
If the district agrees to the IEE, it must be provided without unnecessary delay (per federal baseline, 34 CFR 300.502).
Conciliation conference, if requested regarding an evaluation dispute, must be held within 10 calendar days (Minn. Stat. § 125A.091, subd. 7).