Get an Independent Educational Evaluation, Your School District Will Accept

Expert IEE Services for IEP & 504 Plans in Morgan Hill & Campbell from Licensed Educational Psychologists

When the school district's evaluation doesn't align with what you see in your child, or when they require outside testing for accommodations, you need an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) that schools will accept and act upon.

At Mind By Design, our licensed educational psychologists bring a critical advantage: we've worked inside the California public school system. We understand exactly how districts evaluate students, what documentation they require for IEP and 504 plans, and how to present findings that lead to real accommodations.

Unlike general psychological assessments, an IEE specifically addresses your child's educational needs within the school context. Our team doesn't just identify challenges; we translate our findings into actionable recommendations that fit within the framework schools use to provide services. Whether you disagree with your district's assessment, need comprehensive testing for the first time, or are seeking specific accommodations for learning differences, our evaluations provide the evidence-based foundation schools require to implement support services.

Parents throughout Campbell, Morgan Hill, and Santa Clara County choose Mind By Design because we bridge the gap between clinical assessment and educational advocacy. We've sat in countless IEP meetings, written hundreds of school-based reports, and understand the specific language and documentation that drives accommodation decisions. When your child's educational future is at stake, you need more than test scores; you need an evaluation that opens doors to the support services they deserve.

Our Services

An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is a comprehensive assessment conducted by a qualified professional who is not employed by your child's school district.

Under federal law (IDEA), parents have the right to obtain an IEE when they disagree with the district's evaluation, and in many cases, the district must pay for it. Even when families choose to pay privately, an IEE provides an independent perspective that schools must consider when making decisions about special education services, IEP goals, or 504 plan accommodations.

Our IEE process at Mind By Design goes far beyond standard testing. We conduct a thorough evaluation that may include cognitive assessments (IQ testing), academic achievement testing, processing evaluations, behavioral observations, social-emotional assessments, and specialized testing for conditions like dyslexia, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorders. What sets our evaluations apart is our team's extensive experience working within California public schools; we know exactly what information districts need to make eligibility determinations and design effective interventions.

We don't just deliver test scores in a vacuum. Every IEE we conduct is contextualized within your child's educational environment, current classroom performance, and specific areas where they need support. Our comprehensive reports include clear eligibility recommendations, specific accommodation suggestions that align with IEP or 504 frameworks, evidence-based intervention strategies, and practical classroom modifications. We write our findings in language that speaks directly to the concerns raised by teachers, school psychologists, and IEP teams.

Perhaps most importantly, our support doesn't end when you receive the report. We help you understand every aspect of the evaluation, prepare for IEP or 504 meetings where findings will be discussed, and provide consultation as you work with your school district to implement recommendations. Many families also choose our Educational & IEP Consulting services to have expert guidance through the advocacy process. When you need an evaluation that truly makes a difference in your child's educational experience, our team provides both the clinical expertise and the school-system knowledge to achieve meaningful results.

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Key Benefits

The most critical factor in an effective IEE isn't just clinical expertise; it's understanding how school districts operate from the inside. Every member of our evaluation team is a Licensed Educational Psychologist who has worked directly within California public schools as a school psychologist or special education administrator. This insider perspective is invaluable when your goal is securing accommodations or services through an IEP or 504 plan.
We've participated in hundreds of IEP meetings, written countless school-based assessments, and collaborated with district administrators to design intervention programs. This experience shapes every aspect of our IEE process, from test selection to report writing. We know which assessment instruments schools recognize and trust, what documentation districts require for eligibility determinations, and how to frame findings within the specific legal and procedural frameworks that govern special education in California.
When schools review our evaluations, they see reports written by professionals who speak their language and understand their constraints. We don't make unrealistic recommendations that districts can't implement; we suggest evidence-based interventions that fit within typical school resources while genuinely addressing your child's needs. Our reports reference relevant California Education Code sections, align with federal IDEA requirements, and provide the specific data points that eligibility teams use to make placement decisions.
This unique combination of clinical expertise and school-system knowledge means our IEEs consistently result in meaningful accommodations and services. Schools take our findings seriously because they come from professionals with demonstrated expertise in educational settings, not just clinical psychology. Parents throughout Santa Clara County have seen our evaluations open doors that seemed closed, secure services that were initially denied, and create educational plans that truly support their children's learning differences.
Every child's situation is unique, and a truly independent evaluation must be tailored to address the specific questions you and your school district have about your child's learning. Unlike standardized assessment batteries that test the same areas for every student, we customize our IEE based on your child's individual needs, the concerns raised by teachers, areas where previous evaluations may have been incomplete, and the specific accommodations or services you're seeking.
Our comprehensive approach may include cognitive assessments to understand overall intellectual functioning and specific processing strengths and weaknesses, academic achievement testing across reading, writing, and mathematics to identify skill gaps, processing evaluations examining memory, attention, processing speed, and executive functions, behavioral and social-emotional assessments to understand how these factors impact learning, and specialized testing for suspected learning disabilities like dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia. We also conduct autism spectrum evaluations, ADHD assessments, and testing for other conditions that affect educational performance.
Throughout Silicon Valley, parents often seek our IEE services because school district evaluations missed critical areas or didn't dig deep enough into suspected learning differences. California school psychologists typically carry overwhelming caseloads and may not have time for the in-depth, individualized testing that complex learning profiles require. Our private practice model allows us to spend whatever time is necessary, typically 8-12 hours of direct assessment plus extensive background review and report writing, to truly understand your child's learning profile.
We also gather critical contextual information through parent interviews, review of educational records and previous assessments, teacher questionnaires when appropriate, and classroom observations when needed. This comprehensive approach ensures we're not just measuring isolated skills in a testing room, but understanding how your child functions in real educational environments. When the evaluation is complete, you'll have a thorough understanding of your child's strengths, challenges, and the specific support they need to succeed.
The true measure of an IEE's value isn't the thickness of the report or the number of tests administered; it's whether the evaluation leads to meaningful accommodations and services for your child. Our reports are specifically designed to meet the documentation requirements that California school districts use when making eligibility and placement decisions, and to provide clear, actionable recommendations that IEP and 504 teams can implement.
We structure our reports to directly address the eligibility criteria for various special education categories under California law and federal IDEA regulations. When learning disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, or other conditions are identified, we provide the specific diagnostic documentation and educational impact evidence that districts require. Our reports clearly explain not just what challenges exist, but how these challenges affect your child's ability to access the general education curriculum, the critical consideration in special education eligibility.
Our recommendations section is where our school system experience truly shines. Instead of generic suggestions, we provide specific accommodations tied to identified needs, evidence-based intervention programs available in most school districts, classroom modifications with practical implementation details, assistive technology suggestions when appropriate, and clearly articulated goals that can be incorporated into IEPs. We prioritize recommendations based on what will make the biggest difference for your child, and we explain the rationale in terms that both parents and educators can understand.
School districts throughout Campbell, Morgan Hill, and the surrounding Santa Clara County areas recognize Mind By Design reports as thorough, professionally sound, and educationally relevant. Because our team includes licensed educational psychologists with school administration experience, we understand the legal obligations districts have to consider IEE findings. Our reports provide the documentation needed to support accommodation requests, and our professional reputations in the educational community give our findings credibility in IEP meetings.

Receiving an Independent Educational Evaluation is just the first step; the real work begins when you bring those findings to your school district and advocate for appropriate services.
Unlike providers who simply deliver a report and move on, Mind By Design offers ongoing support to ensure your child actually receives the accommodations and interventions our evaluation recommends. We're not just diagnosticians; we're partners in your advocacy journey.
After your IEE is complete, we provide a comprehensive feedback session where we explain every finding in detail, help you understand the implications for your child's education, review each recommendation and how it addresses identified needs, and develop a strategic plan for presenting findings to your school district. We help you anticipate questions the IEP team might raise and prepare responses that advocate effectively for your child's needs.
Many families also choose our Educational & IEP Consulting services for additional support as they navigate meetings with their school district. While we don't attend IEP meetings as part of the standard IEE service (and can provide referrals to educational advocates or attorneys if you need meeting representation), we do offer consultation to help you prepare for these critical conversations. We'll help you understand what services you can reasonably request based on evaluation findings, know what questions to ask and what documentation to request, recognize when districts are offering appropriate support versus inadequate responses, and develop strategies if initial meetings don't result in appropriate accommodations.
Our goal is to ensure that the significant investment you make in an Independent Educational Evaluation translates into real support for your child in the classroom. We've seen too many excellent evaluations gather dust because families didn't know how to advocate effectively with their findings. Throughout Santa Clara County, parents describe our follow-up support as the difference between having a report and actually getting services. When you choose Mind By Design, you're not just getting an evaluation; you're getting a team that stands behind their recommendations and helps you fight for your child's educational rights.
Many parents aren't sure whether an Independent Educational Evaluation is the right step for their situation, or they're uncertain about their legal rights regarding IEE services. Understanding when an IEE is appropriate and when districts must pay for one can significantly impact your child's access to needed services. California and federal special education law provide specific rights regarding independent evaluations that many families don't realize they have.
You have the legal right to request an IEE at public expense when you disagree with an evaluation completed by your school district. This might occur when district testing concluded your child doesn't qualify for services, but you see clear struggles, when you believe the district's evaluation was incomplete or didn't assess critical areas, when testing was conducted without appropriate accommodations for your child's needs, or when the assessment methods used weren't appropriate for your child's background or situation. Under IDEA, when parents request a publicly-funded IEE, the district must either agree to pay for the evaluation or file for due process to defend its assessment.
Even when you're not invoking your right to a publicly-funded IEE, obtaining a private Independent Educational Evaluation is often the most effective path forward in several situations: when your child is in private school and the district hasn't conducted recent testing, when you need comprehensive assessment before formally requesting special education evaluation from the district, when you want testing for specific concerns like dyslexia or ADHD and the district has declined to assess, or when you need current documentation to support 504 plan accommodations. Private IEEs are also valuable when you want a second opinion before making major educational decisions.
Throughout our service area in Campbell, Morgan Hill, and surrounding communities, we help families understand their options and rights. During an initial consultation, we'll discuss your specific situation, explain whether your circumstances might qualify for a publicly-funded IEE, review what the district's evaluation included and what may have been missed, and help you determine whether an independent evaluation is likely to provide the answers and documentation you need. We're committed to being a resource for families navigating
The conditions that most commonly require school accommodations and interventions demand specialized assessment expertise that goes beyond general psychological testing. Our team at Mind By Design includes professionals with advanced training and certifications in the specific areas that most frequently impact educational performance. This specialized expertise ensures that your IEE thoroughly and accurately identifies the challenges your child faces.
Founder Jana Parker holds credentials that directly support the specialized testing many families seek: Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), Board Certified School Neuropsychologist (ABSNP), and Certified ADHD Professional (ADHD-CCSP).
This combination of credentials represents thousands of hours of specialized training beyond graduate school, and translates into evaluations that identify subtle learning differences that less specialized assessments might miss. Our team provides expert assessment for dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities in reading, dysgraphia and written expression disorders, dyscalculia and mathematics learning disabilities, ADHD and executive function challenges, autism spectrum disorders, processing disorders affecting memory, attention, and processing speed, and emotional and behavioral challenges that impact learning.
Each of these conditions requires different assessment approaches, specialized testing instruments, and a nuanced interpretation of results. For example, identifying dyslexia requires more than just finding that a child reads below grade level; it demands careful analysis of phonological processing, rapid naming ability, orthographic processing, and the pattern of strengths and weaknesses that characterize this specific learning disability. Similarly, distinguishing between ADHD and processing speed challenges, or between autism spectrum characteristics and social anxiety, requires clinical expertise that comes from specialized training and extensive experience.
Our specialized expertise also means we understand how these conditions interact with each other and with the educational environment. Many children have complex profiles involving multiple areas of challenge, perhaps ADHD combined with a learning disability, or autism spectrum characteristics alongside anxiety. Our comprehensive approach identifies these overlapping challenges and provides recommendations that address the complete picture of your child's needs. When you need answers about specific learning differences, our team has the specialized knowledge to provide accurate diagnoses and effective intervention recommendations.

Our Service Categories

Comprehensive assessment to identify specific learning disabilities, including dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Our evaluations examine the cognitive-academic patterns that characterize learning disabilities, provide clear diagnostic conclusions when criteria are met, and offer specific intervention recommendations. These evaluations are specifically designed to meet eligibility criteria for special education services under the Specific Learning Disability category, and include the processing assessments California districts require for SLD identification.
Specialized evaluation for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and executive function challenges affecting organization, planning, working memory, and self-regulation. Our ADHD assessments include comprehensive testing using multiple methods and informants, as required by best practices, and address both diagnostic questions and educational impact. We provide the documentation schools need to support accommodations for ADHD under either an IEP (Other Health Impairment) or 504 plan eligibility, along with specific classroom and testing modifications.
In-depth assessment for autism spectrum disorders, including the social communication, behavioral, and sensory characteristics that may impact educational performance. Our autism evaluations combine standardized diagnostic instruments with clinical observation and developmental history to provide comprehensive diagnostic conclusions. When autism spectrum disorder is identified, our reports address eligibility for special education services and provide detailed recommendations for classroom supports, social skills interventions, and communication strategies that schools can implement.
Comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation examining the brain-behavior relationships that affect learning, including processing speed, working memory, attention, executive functions, and other cognitive domains. These detailed assessments are particularly valuable when children have complex learning profiles, when previous evaluations haven't fully explained their struggles, or when neurological or developmental conditions impact educational performance. School neuropsychological assessments provide the deep understanding needed for complex accommodation plans and specialized interventions.
Thorough evaluation of intellectual functioning and cognitive abilities using current, evidence-based assessment instruments. IQ testing is often required for gifted program eligibility, twice-exceptional (gifted with learning disabilities) identification, and some special education categories. Our cognitive assessments go beyond simply providing an IQ score; we examine patterns of cognitive strengths and weaknesses that inform educational planning and explain why certain types of learning may be challenging despite strong overall intelligence.

Our Process

STEP ONE

Initial Consultation & Information Gathering

Your IEE journey begins with a comprehensive consultation where we discuss your specific concerns about your child's learning, review any previous evaluations or testing the school district has completed, understand what questions you need answered and what accommodations you're seeking, and determine whether an Independent Educational Evaluation is the right approach for your situation. During this initial conversation, we'll also explain your legal rights regarding IEEs, including when districts must fund independent evaluations. This consultation typically takes 30-45 minutes and can be conducted by phone or in person at either our Campbell or Morgan Hill office. We'll also gather background information, including educational records, report cards, teacher feedback, and any relevant medical or developmental history. This comprehensive information gathering ensures that when formal testing begins, we're addressing all relevant concerns and can customize the assessment battery to your child's specific needs. There's no obligation following this consultation; our goal is to help you make an informed decision about next steps.

STEP TWO

Comprehensive Testing Sessions

Once we've agreed that an IEE is appropriate and you've completed intake paperwork, we'll schedule testing sessions at our Campbell or Morgan Hill office. Most comprehensive evaluations require 6-12 hours of direct assessment time with your child, typically divided across multiple sessions to prevent fatigue and ensure we see your child's best performance. Our licensed educational psychologists conduct all testing personally in a comfortable, welcoming environment designed to put children at ease. The specific tests administered depend on your child's age and the referral questions, but typically include cognitive assessment, academic achievement testing, processing evaluations, and behavioral/social-emotional measures. We may also include specialized testing for suspected learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, or other conditions. Between sessions, we also gather information from other sources through parent questionnaires, teacher rating scales when appropriate, and review of work samples from school. Our comprehensive approach ensures we understand not just how your child performs on standardized tests, but how their challenges manifest in real educational settings. Most families complete the testing phase within 2-3 weeks, though we can expedite when situations require faster turnaround.

STEP THREE

Analysis, Report Writing, & Feedback Session

After testing is complete, your educational psychologist spends extensive time scoring assessments, analyzing patterns across different measures, integrating information from multiple sources, and writing a comprehensive report that addresses your specific questions and concerns. Our reports typically range from 15-30 pages and include background information, assessment methods and instruments used, detailed results with interpretations, diagnostic conclusions when appropriate, educational impact analysis, and comprehensive recommendations for accommodations and interventions. We write specifically for an educational audience, using language that IEP teams understand and addressing the eligibility criteria California school districts use. Report completion typically takes 2-3 weeks after testing concludes. Once your report is ready, we schedule a comprehensive feedback session (typically 60-90 minutes) where we explain all findings in detail, answer your questions, discuss recommendations and how to implement them, and develop a strategic plan for presenting findings to your school district. You'll leave this session with a thorough understanding of your child's learning profile and a clear path forward for advocacy.

STEP FOUR

Follow-Up Support & Consultation

Our commitment to your child doesn't end when you receive the evaluation report. We provide follow-up support as you work with your school district to implement recommendations. While ongoing consultation is a separate service from the IEE itself, many families choose additional Educational & IEP Consulting sessions to help them prepare for IEP meetings, understand the services being offered by the district, know what questions to ask and what documentation to request, or develop advocacy strategies when districts are resistant to providing appropriate services. We're also available to answer questions that arise as you review our report more thoroughly or discuss findings with others. If needed, we can provide written clarifications or addenda to the report, speak with school personnel about findings (with your consent), or clarify specific recommendations. Our goal is to ensure that the comprehensive evaluation you've invested in translates into meaningful support for your child in the classroom.

Our Approach

At Mind By Design, our approach to Independent Educational Evaluations is fundamentally shaped by our team's extensive experience working inside California public schools.

We understand that an IEE isn't simply a clinical assessment; it's a strategic advocacy tool that must speak the language of education, address school district criteria, and provide recommendations that are both evidence-based and practically implementable within typical school resources. This dual perspective, clinical excellence combined with educational system expertise, defines everything we do.

Our evaluation philosophy centers on understanding each child as a complete individual within their educational context. We don't just measure isolated skills in a testing room; we seek to understand how your child learns, what stands in the way of their success, and what specific supports will make the biggest difference in their daily educational experience. This means we carefully consider not just test scores, but also classroom performance, teacher observations, your insights as parents, and the broader context of your child's development. We recognize that behind every request for an Independent Educational Evaluation is a child who's struggling and a family seeking answers and solutions.

We take seriously our responsibility to provide evaluations that schools will accept and act upon. This means using assessment instruments that are recognized as reliable and valid by the educational community, providing the specific documentation required by special education eligibility criteria, writing recommendations that align with how schools structure interventions and accommodations, and explaining findings in language that connects to the frameworks IEP teams use. Our reports don't just identify problems; they provide a clear roadmap for solutions that fit within the realities of public education while genuinely addressing your child's needs.

Throughout Silicon Valley, families trust Mind By Design because we bring both compassion and tenacity to our work. We know how emotional it is to navigate your child's learning differences, how frustrating it can be when school districts seem dismissive of your concerns, and how critical it is to get the right support in place quickly. Our team approaches every evaluation with the urgency your situation deserves, the clinical rigor that ensures accurate findings, and the advocacy mindset that keeps your child's needs at the center of every decision. When you choose us for your Independent Educational Evaluation, you're choosing a team that will stand behind our findings and support you through the process of turning recommendations into reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mind By Design was founded by Jana Parker, a Licensed Educational Psychologist who spent over a decade working in California public schools before establishing our private practice in 2020. Our team of licensed educational psychologists and specialists in Campbell and Morgan Hill brings a unique perspective to independent educational evaluations. We've worked inside the school system and understand exactly what documentation and recommendations lead to meaningful accommodations.

Learn More

An Independent Educational Evaluation is a comprehensive assessment conducted by a qualified professional who is not employed by your child's school district. The key difference is independence; our evaluations are conducted without any institutional bias or resource constraints that might influence school-based testing. While school psychologists are highly qualified professionals, they often carry large caseloads that limit the time available for each assessment. Our IEEs typically involve more extensive testing (8-12 hours versus 4-6 hours for many school evaluations), use a broader range of specialized assessment instruments, and provide more detailed analysis and recommendations. Additionally, because our team has worked within school systems, we bring an insider's understanding of how districts operate, what documentation they require, and how to present findings that lead to meaningful accommodations. Schools are required by federal law to consider IEE findings when making decisions about your child's education.
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents have the legal right to request an IEE at public expense whenever they disagree with an evaluation completed by their school district. This might occur if you believe the district's testing was incomplete, if you disagree with their conclusions about eligibility or services needed, or if you feel the assessment didn't adequately address your child's challenges. When you make this request, the district has two options: agree to pay for the independent evaluation, or file for due process to defend their assessment. The district cannot simply deny your request; it must take one of these two actions. The IEE must be conducted by someone who meets the same criteria the district uses for their evaluations (which our licensed educational psychologists do), and the district can have reasonable requirements about cost and evaluator qualifications. We can help you understand your rights and navigate this process during an initial consultation.
The cost of an IEE varies based on the specific assessments needed to address your child's situation, but comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations typically range from $3,000 to $5,000. This investment includes initial consultation and background information gathering, 8-12 hours of direct assessment with your child across multiple domains, scoring and analysis of all assessment instruments, a comprehensive written report (typically 15-30 pages) with diagnostic conclusions and recommendations, and a 60-90 minute feedback session to review all findings and develop an advocacy strategy. Some families' health insurance or flexible spending accounts may cover a portion of evaluation costs when conducted by licensed psychologists. We also accept payment plans to make evaluations more accessible. If you're requesting a publicly-funded IEE after disagreeing with your district's testing, the district covers these costs. Our fees are competitive with other qualified providers in Santa Clara County and reflect the expertise of our licensed educational psychologists with school system experience.
Most families complete the entire IEE process within 4-6 weeks from initial consultation to receiving the final report, though we can often accommodate faster timelines when situations are urgent (such as upcoming IEP meetings). The timeline typically breaks down as follows: initial consultation happens within days of your inquiry, testing sessions are scheduled within 1-2 weeks and occur over 2-3 weeks to prevent child fatigue, report writing and analysis takes 2-3 weeks after testing is complete, and your feedback session is scheduled as soon as the report is ready. We understand that timing can be critical when you're advocating for school accommodations, so we work efficiently while maintaining the thoroughness needed for comprehensive evaluation. If you have an upcoming IEP meeting or other deadline, let us know during the initial consultation, and we'll do our best to accommodate your timeline.
While attending IEP meetings is not included as part of the standard IEE service, we provide substantial support to help you advocate effectively with our findings. Your feedback session includes strategic planning for how to present evaluation results to your school district, and we're available for follow-up consultation as you navigate the IEP process. Many families also choose our Educational & IEP Consulting service for additional support in preparing for meetings, understanding what services to request, and developing advocacy strategies when districts are resistant. If you need someone to attend meetings with you as an advocate, we can provide referrals to educational advocates or special education attorneys in the Santa Clara County area. Our focus is on providing the comprehensive evaluation and expert recommendations that give you a strong foundation for advocacy, combined with the knowledge you need to effectively represent your child's interests. We can also speak with school personnel by phone about our findings (with your consent) or provide written clarifications if questions arise about the evaluation.

YOUR CHILD DESERVES THE RIGHT EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT

Get an Independent Educational Evaluation that schools accept and that leads to real accommodations.