Can a parent ask for an independent iep evaluation six months after approving the original iep?

Question

question pretty much says it all.

Answer 1

you can call a meeting of the team anytime you want. daily if you so choose. Just know it will be at least 10 school days until you get the meeting.

Answer 2

Yes you can but I would  try to find someone that's not connected to the department of education so that you can be sure that the evaluation is truly independent.  I had my daughter evaluated by the hospital where she was being seen by her therapist and her medical insurance paid for it. I had had her evaluated by the department of ed and all they told me was that she had learning disabilities I knew that I wanted to know which ones and if the Dept. of  ed. could address them or should I take her to private school. When I had her privately evaluated we found out that she was dyslexic, had a none specific reading disability and processing problems and she has small motor skill issues which is why she could not physically form the letters to write. The board of ed didn't tell me that because except for the OT they couldn't address the other issues that she had. Which for us worked out better in the long run because I was able to get her into a school for kids with LD and she now does so much better and is a heck of a lot happier young adult.

Answer 3

Obviously the current IEP isn't working so you can certainly ask for another IEP meeting to review it and determine any changes that need to be made.  Why do you feel the need for an independent evaluation of your child?  Do you feel your child needs a different kind of program then the school offers?  Usually an independent evaluation is needed when the school and the parents do not agree on the services needed or the classification used for qualifying for services.  By all means, use all the rights given to you through IDEA to obtain the best education for your child.  

Since the current IEP isn't working, I would suggest that after you revise it that you state at the meeting that you want to schedule another meeting in 2-4 weeks to review the progress of the new IEP.  If your school is resistant to making changes, push them by going to the administrators of your school district or to the state administrators.

Good luck to you!!!  Schools can be difficult to deal with sometimes, especially when they have numerous people at the meeting and they all seem to be ganging up on you.  Having an advocate there with you can really up the ante for the school too!  Don't give up!!

Answer 4

You have the right for an independent evaluation at any time.  However, be aware, you must ask for it in writing.  You should state in this that you do not agree with the original results the school presented, and request that the school pay for it.

We got an independent evaluator after we sued the school in an IDEA lawsuit.  Just to warn you, many of the evaluators the school will suggest you use are tested to be "school friendly".  If you have private insurance, you may want to pay for the eval yourself and use a provider you are sure will be truly "independent".

It took me a long time of sifting through practitioners to finally find a team that I feel are going to tell me what I need to know to make the best decisions for my child.  Regardless of what the school thinks or wants.  It is not that their views are unimportant, it is just that they are a piece to the puzzle.  What you see, and if possible what the child thinks and feels need to be part of that puzzle also.

Answer 5

Sure you can. The IEP has to be done at least once a year, there are not prohibitions to doing it more oftern if circumscances or needs change.

Answer 6

Yes indeed and the school district will pay for it if you use a psychologist from a list that they have.