Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) in Missouri
How do you get an independent educational evaluation (IEE) in Missouri?
In Missouri, parents have the right to obtain an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense if they disagree with the results or conclusions of any part of the school district's evaluation, consistent with 34 CFR 300.502 and the Missouri State Plan. A parent is entitled to one IEE at public expense each time they disagree with an evaluation conducted by the district. When a parent requests an IEE, the district must either (1) agree to provide or fund the IEE, or (2) file a due process complaint to demonstrate that its own evaluation was appropriate. If the district files for due process and the hearing officer finds the district's evaluation was appropriate, the parent still retains the right to obtain an IEE at their own expense. The IEE must meet the same criteria the district uses for its own evaluations, including evaluator qualifications, assessment instruments, and geographic scope, unless the parent demonstrates that unique circumstances justify different criteria. The results of any IEE, whether publicly or privately funded, must be considered by the IEP team in making decisions about the child's education. Missouri's Parents' Bill of Rights (RSMo 161.850) requires LEAs to inform parents of their IEE rights as part of the procedural safeguards notice.
What Missouri Requires
Parents have the right to one IEE at public expense each time they disagree with a district evaluation (34 CFR 300.502(b); Missouri State Plan).
Upon receiving a parent's IEE request, the district must either fund the IEE or file a due process complaint to demonstrate its evaluation was appropriate (34 CFR 300.502(b)(2)).
The IEE must be independent — the evaluator cannot be employed by the school district (34 CFR 300.502(a)(3)(i)).
The IEE must meet the same criteria the district uses for its own evaluations, unless the parent demonstrates unique circumstances justifying different criteria (34 CFR 300.502(e)).
Results of any IEE, whether publicly or privately funded, must be considered by the IEP team in making educational decisions (34 CFR 300.502(c)).
The Parents' Bill of Rights (RSMo 161.850) requires LEAs to inform parents of their IEE rights when a child is determined eligible or when procedural safeguards are provided.
Key Timelines
The district must respond to a parent's IEE request without unnecessary delay — either agreeing to fund the IEE or filing for due process (34 CFR 300.502(b)(2)).
There is no specific day-count deadline for the district's response to an IEE request, but unnecessary delay may constitute a violation (34 CFR 300.502(b)).