INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL EVALUATION
Comprehensive IEE Services in St. Charles, Missouri
An independent, thorough evaluation of a child's full developmental and educational profile — serving families, schools, and referral partners with objective, actionable findings that extend well beyond the classroom.
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Licensed Clinical Psychologist
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Medical Diagnoses Provided
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Nationally Certified School Psychologist
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St. Charles, MO
Dual-Licensed
Clinical Psychologist & Nationally Certified School Psychologist
WHAT IS AN IEE?
An objective, independent full picture
An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is a comprehensive assessment of a child's developmental, cognitive, academic, social-emotional, and behavioral functioning — conducted by a qualified professional who is independent of the school district.
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While IEEs are often associated with the special education process, the scope of a well-conducted IEE extends well beyond school eligibility determinations. At Minds in Progress, every evaluation is designed to give families, schools, pediatricians, and other providers a complete, accurate, and actionable picture of a child's needs — not just the narrow slice required to determine IEP eligibility.
Beyond the classroom: Our IEE reports include formal medical diagnoses where criteria are met (ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, anxiety, and others), alongside specific recommendations for home, community supports, and medical follow-up — not just school accommodations.
IEEs may be requested by families, initiated privately, or funded by a school district under IDEA when parents disagree with the district's own evaluation. Regardless of how the evaluation is initiated, the process and the depth of assessment remain the same.
WHAT FAMILIES RECEIVE
Three domains of comprehensive findings
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School Supports & Eligibility
Specific, actionable recommendations for the school setting — grounded in evaluation data and clearly connected to your child's identified needs.
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Special education eligibility determination
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IEP goal area recommendations
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504 accommodation suggestions
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Classroom environment and instructional strategies
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Related services recommendations (OT, speech, counseling)
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Educational placement considerations
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Medical Diagnoses
When evaluation findings meet established diagnostic criteria, Dr. McKinzie provides formal diagnoses that families can use across all aspects of their child's care — not just the school setting.
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ADHD (all presentations)
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Specific Learning Disabilities — dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia
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Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Intellectual Disability or Giftedness
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Anxiety and mood disorders
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Developmental delays
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Home & Community Recommendations
Practical, evidence-based guidance for daily life at home and in the community — giving families tools they can use immediately, alongside the school and medical support plan.
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Parenting strategies for specific challenges
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Behavioral and routine supports at home
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Community resources and referrals
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Therapy recommendations (individual, family, or parent coaching)
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Pediatrician follow-up guidance
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Strengths-based approach for building on what's working
WHO WE WORK WITH
Serving families, schools, & referral partners
Independent evaluations serve many parties — and all of them benefit from the same thing: a thorough, objective report that holds up to scrutiny and drives good decisions for the child.
Familes
Families seeking a comprehensive understanding of their child's profile — whether pursuing a second opinion, clarifying a previous diagnosis, or simply wanting a thorough evaluation from an independent specialist. An IEE provides answers across school, medical, and home domains in a single, cohesive report.
Schools & Districts
School districts and IEP teams who need an independent specialist's perspective — particularly for complex cases involving multiple co-occurring conditions, eligibility disputes, or students who have not responded to previous interventions. Our reports are specifically structured to inform IEP planning and are clearly connected to IDEA criteria.
Referral Partners
Pediatricians, therapists, psychiatrists, and other providers who need comprehensive psychoeducational or neuropsychological data to inform treatment planning. Our reports include formal diagnoses and specific clinical recommendations that integrate directly into broader care plans.
ASSESSMENT & DELIVERABLES
What every IEE includes
Areas of Assessment
Tailored to each child's referral questions — never a one-size-fits-all battery.
Cognitive ability and intellectual functioning
Academic achievement — reading, writing, math
Attention, memory and processing speed
Executive functioning
Social-emotional and behavioral functioning
Adaptive behavior and daily living skills
Language and communication skills
Anxiety, depression, and mood
Multi-informant rating scales — parent, teacher, self-report
What You Receive
A complete evaluation package — from intake through feedback.
Clinical intake interview with parents or guardians
Review of prior records, evaluations, and IEPs
1:1 testing sessions (3–5 hours, age-appropriate)
Formal medical diagnoses where criteria are met
Comprehensive written report — school, medical, and home recommendations
Specific IEP and 504 recommendations
Pediatrician and referral partner communication as needed
Feedback session with Dr. McKinzie
IEP meeting attendance support (available upon request)
ABOUT THE EVALUATOR
Why dual licensure matters for IEEs
Dr. McKinzie Duesenberg holds dual licensure as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist — a combination that is rare, and particularly valuable for IEE work. Most clinical psychologists lack formal training in special education law and school-based assessment standards. Most school psychologists lack the clinical training to provide medical diagnoses or broader mental health assessments.
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Dr. McKinzie brings both. Every IEE she conducts is simultaneously grounded in IDEA, diagnostic standards, clinical best practice, and practical knowledge of how recommendations are implemented in real school settings.
PhD
LCP
NCSP
ADOS-2
PSYPACT
IDEA-Informing Reporting
Reports are structured to address special education eligibility criteria, disability categories, and IEP planning — not just clinical findings. Schools and IEP teams receive reports they can act on directly.
ADOS-2 Certified
For IEEs involving autism spectrum concerns, Dr. McKinzie is certified in the ADOS-2 — the gold-standard diagnostic instrument for ASD — providing reliable, defensible autism assessments.
Strengths-Based Throughout
Every IEE identifies cognitive and behavioral strengths alongside challenges — ensuring that school plans, home strategies, and clinical recommendations are built around who the child actually is.
THE EVALUATION PROCESS
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Intake & Records Review
A clinical intake interview with parents or guardians, along with thorough review of prior evaluations, school records, and IEPs — ensuring every existing piece of information informs the assessment plan.
Comprehensive Testing
1:1 testing sessions of 3–5 hours, tailored to referral questions and age-appropriate throughout. Parent and teacher rating scales are completed concurrently to capture functioning across all settings.
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A comprehensive written report delivered within 2–4 weeks of the final testing session. Includes diagnoses, cognitive profile, and specific recommendations for school, medical care, and home — all integrated into a single document.
Feedback & Follow-up
A thorough feedback session with Dr. McKinzie to review findings and answer questions. IEP meeting attendance and communication with referral partners or pediatricians is available upon request.
What to expect
- Investment
Transparent pricing
DISTRICT FUNDED IEE
$0 to Family
When a family has requested an IEE at public expense under IDEA and the district has agreed to fund it, the district is responsible for the full cost of the evaluation.
PRIVATE IEE
$1,500–$3,000
Families who fund an IEE privately — for additional clarity, a more comprehensive assessment, or without an active district dispute — pay directly. Exact cost depends on scope.
SELF-PAY PRACTICE
Superbill
For privately funded IEEs, a detailed superbill is provided for potential out-of-network insurance reimbursement. We recommend confirming coverage in advance using CPT codes 96130–96137.
For referral partners and school districts: We are happy to discuss the evaluation process, scope, and timeline directly. Please reach out via phone or email to discuss a specific referral — we work collaboratively with IEP teams, pediatric practices, and other providers throughout the St. Charles and greater St. Louis area.