By Elizabeth A. Morrow, Esq.

With explanations of IDEA mandates, this guide spells out your district’s legal requirements — and rights — when determining whether to grant a parent’s request for an IEE, who must pay for it and what criteria you may impose. Plus, concise summaries of rulings from OSEP, the courts and hearing officers illustrate when parents have a right to obtain an IEE at public expense and when they may (and may not) recover costs for an IEE they’ve obtained.

Make decisions based on sound legal precedent with analysis of:

• What constitutes "unreasonable" delay in responding to an IEE request
• Limits districts may place on the scope of an IEE without interfering with the parents' or student's right to one
• Your obligation to provide parents information about district IEE criteria so they can make informed decisions about choosing the evaluator and seeking a cost-cap waiver
• Documenting that the IEP team "considered" independent evaluations submitted by the parents
• And more