"I've sat at over 500 IEP tables."
I'm Mary, a former special education teacher and administrator, a Special Education Advocate, and co-founder of The Advocate Ally with my son, Graham. I left the system to help families directly. I created this special education resource because too many parents feel pressured to accept generic, "cookie-cutter" IEPs.
The guidance below is grounded in the same practical, document-based questions I raise in IEP meetings every day. Use it to ask for clearer, more individualized support for your child.
Mary
Co-founder, The Advocate Ally
Start with the record, then choose the next step
You disagree with the school's evaluation of your child. You've requested an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE), but the school is refusing or has not explained the funding process.
What to Check
- The school evaluation date, evaluator, areas assessed, and the area you disagree with.
- Any missing tests, overlooked needs, inconsistent data, or recommendations you believe need a second opinion.
- When you requested IEE information and how the school responded.
Red Flags
- The school gave a verbal answer but the IEP, PWN, progress report, or meeting note does not show the decision.
- The response focuses on opinion, staffing, or habit without naming data, records, or the written IEP section.
- The issue could affect services, placement, discipline, safety, graduation, or evaluation timelines.
Documents to Gather
- The school evaluation report and eligibility or IEP meeting notes.
- A brief parent note identifying the evaluation area at issue.
- Any outside data that shows why the evaluation may need another look, without over-explaining if you prefer not to.
Sample Finding
The record raises a real concern about evaluation and data review, but it does not yet show the controlling page, date, data source, written school decision, and local rule needed to choose the next step safely.
Parent-Safe Sentence
"State that you disagree with the school evaluation, identify the evaluation date and area, and ask for the district's IEE criteria and next steps."
Who to Contact
Start with the case manager or IEP coordinator. If the issue affects services, placement, evaluation, discipline, safety, or complaint options, ask the special education director or a qualified local advocate about next steps.
Privacy Guardrail
Share only the facts and records needed for this request. Avoid sending broad medical history, unnecessary diagnoses, or extra student identifiers unless the school process specifically requires them.
When to Get Local Help
Get qualified local help if the school response could affect discipline, safety, placement, service denial, evaluation rights, missed timelines, retaliation concerns, state complaint, mediation, due process, graduation, or unclear state-specific deadlines.
Source Grounding
- IDEA IEP contents
- IDEA review and revision of IEPs
- IDEA prior written notice
- CPIR prior written notice
- IDEA initial evaluations
- IDEA evaluation procedures
This guide is educational information, not legal advice. Rules and deadlines can vary by state, district, and procedure.
What's Happening
You disagree with the school's evaluation of your child. You've requested an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE), but the school is refusing or has not explained the funding process.
Rights to Review
Under IDEA, parents who disagree with a school evaluation can ask about IEE options, criteria, timelines, and the funding or dispute process that may apply.
- If you disagree with the school's evaluation, ask what IEE criteria, timelines, and funding process apply.
- Ask the school to document whether it will fund the IEE or use the dispute process to defend its evaluation.
- You do NOT have to explain why you disagree with the school's evaluation.
- Ask the IEP team to consider IEE results in IEP development.
Build a Calm Written Record
When a school conversation feels urgent, the safest first move is usually a narrow written record: what happened, what you are asking for, and what evidence should be reviewed.
The Calmer First Written Step
State that you disagree with the school evaluation, identify the evaluation date and area, and ask for the district's IEE criteria and next steps.
What to Document
- The school evaluation date, evaluator, areas assessed, and the area you disagree with.
- Any missing tests, overlooked needs, inconsistent data, or recommendations you believe need a second opinion.
- When you requested IEE information and how the school responded.
Evidence to Attach
- The school evaluation report and eligibility or IEP meeting notes.
- A brief parent note identifying the evaluation area at issue.
- Any outside data that shows why the evaluation may need another look, without over-explaining if you prefer not to.
When to Ask for PWN
Ask for written documentation if the school refuses funding, does not provide criteria, or does not explain whether it will use the dispute process to defend its evaluation.
Keep the Request Narrow
- Name the evaluation you disagree with and the area of disagreement.
- Ask for criteria, timelines, and the funding or dispute-process next step.
- Avoid debating every evaluation finding in the first request.
What Not to Say
Avoid: Broad accusations about intent or motive.
Try: Tie the concern to the written IEP, evaluation data, service logs, meeting notes, or a specific school decision.
Avoid: A long history of every frustration in the same email.
Try: Lead with the one decision, service gap, or document section you need the team to address now.
Avoid: Here are all the reasons I disagree, and I need the school to accept them.
Try: I disagree with the evaluation dated [date] and request information about IEE criteria and next steps.
Make the written request easy to answer
Keep the message short enough that the school can respond point by point. Use this structure before adding personal details.
State that you disagree with the school evaluation, identify the evaluation date and area, and ask for the district's IEE criteria and next steps.
The school evaluation date, evaluator, areas assessed, and the area you disagree with.
Name the evaluation you disagree with and the area of disagreement.
Ask for written documentation if the school refuses funding, does not provide criteria, or does not explain whether it will use the dispute process to defend its evaluation.
Turn the concern into a usable record
A stronger first message usually sounds specific, documented, and answerable. Use this as the shape, then swap in your child's actual dates and IEP pages.
A parent is trying to document this concern: You disagree with the school's evaluation and want your own—at their expense. Here's how the law works.
The school evaluation report and eligibility or IEP meeting notes.
Name the evaluation you disagree with and the area of disagreement.
What To Do Right Now
Submit a written request: 'I disagree with the school's evaluation dated [date] and request information about Independent Educational Evaluation options and any applicable funding process.'
If the school refuses, ask it to document the next steps and timeline under the IEE dispute process.
Choose a qualified evaluator (you are not limited to the school's list in most cases).
Once completed, request an IEP meeting to review the IEE results.
Start With the Written Record
Before you send a letter or file a complaint, start with the written IEP. The audit can flag documented gaps, weak language, and sections that may deserve a written question or closer professional review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to tell the school why I disagree?
Can the school limit which evaluator I choose?
What if the IEE finds different results?
Review the document before you escalate
Upload your IEP to identify written sections that may need clarification, correction, or professional review.
Review My IEP