RECORD & DATA REVIEW
Review existing evaluations, FBAs, BIPs, IEPs, progress data, and other relevant records.
Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)
An Outside Qualified Perspective on Your Child’s Behavior
If you disagree with the school’s Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), or you’re not confident it fully explains why a behavior is happening, you may have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). An IEE gives you the opportunity to have another qualified professional not employed by the school system evaluate your child. Mason Dixon provides behavior-focused Independent Educational Evaluations, including independent FBAs, using a behavior-analytic approach to better understand behavior and what the findings may mean for your child’s educational program. In some circumstances, an IEE may be provided at public expense, meaning the public agency, not the family, pays for the evaluation. Whether this applies depends on the individual circumstances and applicable special education requirements.
Serving Maryland and Pennsylvania.
What Does a Behavior-Focused IEE Involve?
Every IEE is individualized around the student and the educational questions that still need to be answered. Depending on the situation, our evaluation may include:
INTERVIEWS
Gather perspectives from family members, educators, and others who know and work with the student.
DIRECT OBSERVATION
Observe the student and behavior in relevant educational settings and situations.
BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT
Use a behavior-analytic framework to collect and analyze information about patterns and variables that may be influencing behavior.
INDEPENDENT FINDINGS
Provide an independent interpretation of the information and explain what the findings suggest about the student’s behavior and needs.
MEANINGFUL RECOMMENDATIONS
Translate findings into practical recommendations that can inform behavior intervention and the student’s educational program.
When Another Perspective May Be Valuable
A behavior-focused IEE may be worth exploring when important questions remain after the school’s evaluation.
An independent evaluation can help answer the questions that still remain, not simply repeat the evaluation that has already been completed.
A behavior-focused IEE may be worth exploring when:
- You disagree with all or part of the school’s FBA or behavioral evaluation.
- The evaluation does not seem to fully explain why the behavior is happening.
- The findings don’t seem to match what you or others are seeing across learning, participation, behavior, or everyday functioning.
- Important behavioral concerns or relevant circumstances may not have been fully evaluated.
- The resulting recommendations or BIP don’t seem to address what is actually contributing to the behavior.
- Behavior continues despite intervention, and you want another qualified perspective before deciding what should happen next.
Wondering Whether an IEE Is the Right Next Step?
Every situation is different. Whether you’re questioning an existing evaluation, considering another perspective, or simply trying to understand your options, we can help you determine whether an IEE may be appropriate for your child. If it is, we will help you make an informed decision about what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Independent Educational Evaluations
Have questions about Independent Educational Evaluations, IEEs at public expense, choosing an evaluator, or what happens after an evaluation?
Start with the question that matters most to you right now.
What happens during an IEE?
The process depends on the questions being evaluated and the individual needs of the student. An IEE may include reviewing records and existing evaluations, interviews, observations, direct assessment, and data analysis. We determine the appropriate evaluation methods based on the concerns being explored and provide a written report with findings and recommendations.
Are IEEs based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
Our IEEs are completed by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and use behavior-analytic assessment methods when appropriate. However, an IEE is not ABA therapy. The evaluation is individualized to the educational questions being examined and may consider behavior, learning, environmental factors, skill development, and the supports a student may need.
When can I request an IEE at public expense?
Under IDEA, a parent may request an Independent Educational Evaluation at public expense when they disagree with an evaluation obtained by the public agency. A parent is entitled to one IEE at public expense each time the public agency conducts an evaluation with which the parent disagrees, subject to IDEA’s requirements. If you’re considering this path, ask the public agency for its IEE criteria before choosing or scheduling an evaluator.
Can Mason Dixon conduct every type of Independent Educational Evaluation?
No. Independent Educational Evaluations can address many different educational questions, and the evaluator must have the qualifications and expertise required for the area being evaluated. Mason Dixon is able to provide an IEE for behavior-related educational questions, including an independent Functional Behavior Assessment or another individualized behavior evaluation, when the referral question, our professional qualifications, and any public-agency criteria align. We’ll review the existing evaluation and applicable criteria before recommending a next step. If another evaluator or discipline is a better fit, we’ll say so.
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