Students with disabilities who qualify for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are granted numerous procedural safeguards. If a parent or guardian disagrees with the outcome of a functional behavior assessment (FBA), they can request an Independent Education Evaluation (IEE), conducted by a qualified third party at public expense. Here, behavior analysts have opportunities to support these students and promote evidence-based behavioral interventions. This presentation will 1) review federal policy on IEEs, 2) discuss the IEE process from a third-party contractor's perspective, 3) explain the unique considerations for serving as an independent third-party while maintaining a collaborative and student-centered approach to assessment, and 4) describe practical tools (e.g., checklists and report formats) and recommendations for conducting IEEs in public schools. The ultimate goal of this presentation is to equip behavior analysts with the tools and advice needed to conduct thorough IEEs while fostering collaboration and trust with schools, ultimately enhancing the quality of education students receive.

1. Participants will describe legal and professional requirements and obligations for conducting an independent education evaluation
2. Participants will describe behavioral-analytic assessment strategies for conducting an independent education evaluation
3. Participants will describe how to communicate evaluation results and reports to an interdisciplinary audience

About the Presenter

Matthew Brodhead

Matthew T. Brodhead is an assistant professor at Michigan State University. He is the Director of Spartan Caregiver Support, a service that provides free and evidence-based support to caregivers of people with autism within the State of Michigan. He is also the Research Director of the Early Learning Institute. Dr. Brodhead’s research examines focused social skill interventions for children with autism. He also writes about conceptual issues relating to the ethical and professional behavior of practicing behavior analysts. Through workshops and consultation, he has established multiple school-based programs for children with autism, and he has provided training to teachers, related service providers, and behavior analysts both nationally and internationally. Finally, he specializes in program evaluation for both applied behavior analysis and public school placements for individuals with autism. Dr. Brodhead received both his B.S. in Psychology in 2008 and his M.A. in Behavior Analysis in 2010 from Western Michigan University. In summer of 2010, he moved to Logan, Utah and attended Utah State University, where he received his Ph.D. in Disability Disciplines in 2014 under the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Tom Higbee. Dr. Brodhead holds a BCBA credential with a doctoral designation (i.e., BCBA-D). He is also a licensed behavior analyst in the State of Michigan.