The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 has been revised as of March 28, 2012 regarding independent education evaluations (IEE).
In the past, when a parent requested an IEE, the school district had the right to conduct the assessment before parents were granted an IEE. As of March 28, 2012, when a parent requests an IEE, the district must provide the evaluation, at no cost to the parent!
Parents, keep this information in the back of your mind. If you are at an initial planning or re-evaluation planning meeting and feel that there is an assessment that you would like completed independently of your public school district’s Child Study Team, put your request in writing.
Read the letter sent from Peggy McDonald, Director of the Office of Special Education: http://www.nj.gov/education/specialed/memos/051412Evals.pdf