Independent Educational Evaluations
Comprehensive evaluation in all areas of suspected disability
related to communication
An IEE includes:
Interviews with the student, teachers, parents and any relevant service providers working with the student to gain insight into how the student operates in different settings
Observation(s) of your student in their current school setting, such as classroom, lunch/recess, speech therapy sessions, etc. to determine how the student navigates various situations
Standardized Assessment Tools designed to target specific skills in a structured or semi-structured format compared to other children their age. These test results provide raw scores that corresponds to standardized scores, percentile rankings, age-equivalents and/or growth-scale values.
Performance Based Assessment Tools that can determine how well your student may be able to use their communication skills in a variety of “real life” situations such as play-based language samples, narrative story retells, expository presentations, intelligibility ratings, oral-motor examinations, language and cognition tasks, conversation probes, and many more! The results may be compared to the performance of children from a database, developmental norms, or peers in their classroom.
Assessment Report that discusses the child’s strengths and weaknesses in communication and integrates all of the findings into a cohesive summary which establishes how the student is presenting in their communication skills overall.
Eligibility determination as a child with a Speech-Language Impairment (SLI) affecting pragmatics, speech, morphology/syntax and/or semantics
Recommendations for specific services and accommodations and/or modifications required for the student to receive FAPE as well as various supports, strategies, resources, and evidence-based treatment approaches to be implemented in various settings in the student’s educational environment
Review of findings with parents or caregivers
IEP attendance to share findings of the evaluation and advocate for the student’s needs
Collaboration with the school team, legal team, and family including follow-up consultation, support in drafting rigorous and appropriate goals and attendance at mediation meetings as necessary.
FAQ
What is an IEE?
An IEE stands for an Independent Educational Evaluation and is performed by a professional outside of the school district.
How do I request an IEE?
If the parent or family disagrees with the findings of the school district’s assessment they may submit a letter to their district stating their disagreement and request for an IEE at public expense. A two-year statute of limitations appears to apply to requests for an IEE, meaning that once a family receives an evaluation from their school district, they have two years to file a disagreement with the findings when seeking an IEE.
Who pays for an IEE?
The school district will determine if there are grounds for an IEE, and if an IEE is warranted the district will fund the IEE. Most often, the district will contract directly with the assessor. In some cases the district may require the family to cover the expenses and seek reimbursement from the district. If this is the case, please state this in your initial consultation with Wordsmith so we may discuss payment options.
How long does an IEE usually take to complete?
IEE timelines vary depending on the many factors that may or may not be relevant to your child or school district. A specific timeline will be given upon a review of these factors once an IEE has been authorized.
What happens after the assessment is completed?
An IEP meeting is typically held to review the results and discuss any changes to the student’s educational offering including goals, services, accommodations/modifications and potentially educational placement as a team.
Expert Witness Testimony
Wordsmith is available to consult and provide litigation support on speech-language pathology and related issues. Drawing upon a wealth of knowledge from over a decade of direct experience and training, you can trust us to support your team with expert witness testimony at depositions, hearings and trials. After many years and hundreds of cases, you can expect to receive professional and ethical advice within our scope of practice. Areas of expertise include:
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Complex Communication Needs
Bilingualism / Multilingualism
Articulation and Phonology
Apraxia and Motor Speech Disorders
Expressive and Receptive Language Disorders
Evidence-Based Assessment
Rigorous and Specific IEP Goals
Service Delivery Models in School Settings
Effective Consultation Services
Appropriate Educational Offerings
Book a Consultation
Connect with us and set up a free initial consultation to discuss how Wordsmith can support you