Snapshot....Independent Education Evaluation (IEE)Posted on 07 Jul, 2010
Independent Education Evaluation (IEE)! Why had I not heard about this until a desperate moment when I called a neuropsychologist for urgent advice about my son's down-spiraling behavior in school? Of course, I'm sure it's noted in the packet of IEP rules and reg.'s that we get at every IEP meeting, but it's not something I go through every year or each time I have an issue with services. As a teacher myself, and having worked in the special education field, I keep mistakenly thinking that I can navigate my way through this process with little assistance.
Anyway, my 2nd grader, L., with Asperger's had started on one of his bad cycles, as I call them. At home, but most horrifically at school, he was increasingly agitated, rigid in thought and behavior, seemingly defiant, and the list goes on. He is always like that but it was exacerbated. At school, he was with an experienced teacher, who at the beginning of the year knew little about Asperger's, but took it upon herself to learn about it. Though L. can be frustrating and trying, she truly appreciated him and was genuinely interested in his way of thinking and perceiving things. So, when she started to express a concern over his behaviors, beyond the typical daily issues, I got scared. She could see how anxious and agitated he was becoming and out of the best interest for him, would leave her class with the school secretary to take him outside and walk/run around the school.
So, one day, Teacher pulls me aside when I stop at school to give me the most recent update. For the life of me, I honestly can't remember what it was she said to me now. I've learned that I have to let go of all the negative once it's dealt with or it leads to an unhappy life. So, whatever it was spurred me to call the number of a neuropsych. L. sees a neurologist, but I was feeling like I needed more guidance about how to deal with his behaviors and what to tell the school.
Within 5 minutes, Neuropsych noted that though L.'s classroom teacher seemed phenomenal, there seemed to be little to no support for staff and child. True! She thought that Luke's issues sounded complicated and recommended an IEE. This would allow someone outside the school district to evaluate L. and make recommendations based solely on need and not on what the school system was capable of providing. Sounded good to me, but how much was this going to cost? Well, the school system COULD pay for it if warranted. Time to write a letter. Note: Put everything in writing.
Here's what happened:
1)Sent email to Special Ed. Director of the school district requesting an IEE and that the school district pay for it because "current evaluation is incomplete and/or lacking in that the effects of L.'s sensory issues and Asperger's like behaviors have not been addressed by a professional/expert in the field that can also address the pervasive educational implications." (sent on Monday night).
2)By Tuesday morning at 9, I had received an email from the school principal asking if we'd like to have a 1:1 for L. What?!!! I had mentioned this before to the team; predicting that the only solution would be to provide another adult in the classroom. Now, that a letter was written asking for an outside source to evaluate the situation, it was being offered.
3)My understanding is that after I wrote the letter requesting for the IEE, they had 10 days to respond. They either had to respond with a YES or a NO and it would go to due process.
4)They quickly responded with a yes.
5)So out of 1 email we got a 1:1 and an IEE payed for.
By the way, the IEE turned out to be very helpful and revealing to us, the parents, and for the school.
Tags:
IEE,
independent education evaluation,
asperger's,
behavior,
evaluations
