Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs)
Independent, comprehensive evaluations for Illinois students
SJ Signature Consulting provides independent, comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations that help families and educational teams better understand a student's learning, strengths, and educational needs.
Every Independent Educational Evaluation is personally conducted by Sheila Jercich, M.A., an Illinois school psychologist with more than 30 years of experience in education. From the first conversation through the final report, you work directly with me.
What Is an Independent Educational Evaluation?
An Independent Educational Evaluation, or IEE, is an evaluation of a student completed by a qualified professional who is not employed by the student's school district.
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents may request an IEE at public expense when they disagree with an evaluation conducted by their school district. That request is subject to federal and state requirements and to the district's response, so whether a particular IEE is publicly funded depends on the individual situation. Families may also choose to arrange an independent evaluation privately.
An IEE is not about taking sides. Its purpose is to give everyone at the table a careful, objective picture of the student, so that decisions about eligibility and services rest on sound information.
A Comprehensive and Individualized Evaluation Process
No two students are alike, and no two evaluations should be either. I plan each evaluation around the questions that matter for that student. Depending on the student's needs, an evaluation may include:
Review of educational records and previous evaluations
Parent interviews and developmental history
Cognitive and academic assessment
Social-emotional and behavioral assessment
Executive functioning assessment
Consideration of disability-related educational needs
A comprehensive written report with findings and recommendations
Participation in an eligibility or IEP meeting
Not every student needs every component. Before testing begins, we discuss your concerns and I explain which areas I recommend assessing and why.
Experience From Every Side of the IEP Table
Throughout my career—and in my own family—I have experienced the IEP process from three distinct perspectives: as a school psychologist, a special education administrator, and a parent.
For more than 30 years I have worked as a school psychologist and as a special education administrator, evaluating students and helping teams make eligibility and programming decisions. I am also the parent of an adult daughter with special needs, and I have experienced special education from a family's point of view.
Those experiences shape how I work. I understand what families are hoping to learn, what educational teams need in order to act, and why an objective, comprehensive evaluation matters to both. My goal is a report that is clear, fair, and useful to everyone responsible for the student's education.
Serving Families Throughout Illinois
I work with families and school districts across Illinois. In-person assessment arrangements are determined by location and each student's individual needs, and we plan those details together before the evaluation begins.
I have been approved for inclusion on the Illinois State Board of Education's Illinois Independent Evaluators Registry.
Independence and objectivity. An independent evaluation is only valuable if it is truly independent. I review every IEE referral for potential conflicts of interest before accepting it. My findings and recommendations are based on the assessment data and my professional judgment, whoever requested the evaluation or is paying for it.
Request Information About an IEE
If you are considering an Independent Educational Evaluation, I invite you to reach out. We can talk through your concerns, how the evaluation process works, and my current availability. I am glad to answer questions from families and school districts alike. During our initial conversation, I can also explain evaluation fees and discuss the process for arranging a publicly funded or privately funded evaluation.
Email: sjercich@contractpsych.org
Phone: 708-829-7549
To protect your child's privacy, please do not send evaluation reports, IEPs, or other confidential student records with your first message. A brief description of your concerns is all I need to start the conversation. You are welcome to include your child's grade, but it is optional.