A Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE) is a comprehensive, legally mandated assessment that a Texas school district must conduct to determine whether your child qualifies for special education services under federal law. It is the single most important document in the special education process — because without it, there is no IEP.
If your child is struggling in school and you've heard the term "FIE" tossed around at a meeting, in a letter, or on a form, you are in the right place. This guide will walk you through exactly what an FIE is, what it tests, who conducts it, and what your rights are as a Texas parent — in plain language.
FIE stands for Full and Individual Evaluation. Each word in that name carries legal weight under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal law that governs special education in all fifty states.
"Full" means the evaluation must cover all areas of suspected disability — not just the one or two things a teacher has flagged. If a child is suspected of having both a reading disability and attention difficulties, both must be assessed. The school cannot conduct a narrow, one-subject test and call it done.
"Individual" means the evaluation must be tailored to your specific child. Schools cannot use a generic battery of tests for every student who walks through their door. The assessment must be selected and administered based on your child's unique needs, background, and suspected areas of disability.
The FIE serves three core purposes, each building on the last.
1. Determine eligibility for special education. The FIE answers the legal question: does this child qualify for services under IDEA or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act? In Texas, eligibility is determined at an ARD committee meeting, and the FIE data is what the committee uses to make that call. Without an FIE, the school has no legal basis to offer an IEP.
2. Identify your child's strengths and needs. A well-executed FIE does far more than produce a eligibility "yes" or "no." It paints a detailed picture of how your child learns — what comes naturally to them, where they struggle, and why. This information directly informs the goals and accommodations written into their IEP.
3. Establish a measurable baseline. The FIE captures your child's current academic and functional performance at a specific point in time. That baseline is what the school uses to measure future progress. If your child is re-evaluated in three years, comparing the two evaluations shows whether interventions are actually working.
Depending on your child's suspected areas of disability, the FIE may assess any or all of the following domains:
Not every child will be tested in every domain. The scope of the evaluation should be tied directly to the areas of concern that prompted the referral in the first place.
The FIE is not performed by a single person. Texas law requires a multidisciplinary team — meaning specialists from different disciplines each contribute to the overall evaluation picture. Depending on your child's needs, that team may include:
That last point matters: you are a member of the evaluation team. You know your child better than anyone in that building. Your observations, your concerns, and your input are not just welcome — they are required to be considered.
At a high level, the FIE process in Texas moves through four key stages:
The district provides you with a written notice explaining what they propose to test and why. You must sign and return written consent before any testing can begin. You can also request an FIE yourself, in writing, at any time.
The multidisciplinary team conducts assessments across the agreed-upon domains. This usually happens over several sessions, not a single day.
Evaluators compile their findings into a comprehensive written report. You have the right to receive a copy of this report before the ARD meeting — ask for it early so you have time to read and understand it.
The ARD committee reviews the report, determines eligibility, and — if your child qualifies — develops their IEP. This meeting is where decisions are made, so preparation is everything.
📅 Curious about the exact deadlines? Texas has strict legal timelines governing how long a school district has to complete an FIE once you give written consent. Read our complete breakdown: The 45 School Day FIE Timeline in Texas: What Every Parent Needs to Know →
Reading an FIE report and feeling like it doesn't capture your child is more common than you might think. If you believe the school's evaluation was incomplete, inaccurate, or not conducted according to proper standards, you have a legal right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE).
An IEE is an evaluation conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the school district. If you request one, the district must either pay for it or initiate a due process hearing to defend the validity of its own evaluation. This is a powerful protection — but it works best when you understand the process and request it correctly. A special education advocate or attorney can help you navigate this step if you find yourself there.
An FIE — Full and Individual Evaluation — is a comprehensive assessment required by federal law (IDEA) to determine whether a child qualifies for special education services. It evaluates all areas of a child's suspected disability and must be tailored specifically to that child, not based on a generic testing formula.
In special education, an FIE is the formal evaluation a school district must complete before a child can receive an Individualized Education Program (IEP). It is the legal and diagnostic foundation of the entire special education process — without it, a child cannot be found eligible for services.
Texas requires that a child receiving special education services be re-evaluated at least once every three years. This re-evaluation is sometimes called a "triennial review" or "re-FIE." The purpose is to confirm that the child still qualifies for services and that their current IEP continues to reflect their actual needs. Parents can also request a re-evaluation sooner if circumstances change.
Yes — absolutely. You do not have to wait for a teacher or administrator to suggest it. Any parent can submit a written request for an FIE at any time if they have reason to believe their child may have a disability affecting their education. Once you submit a written request, the district is required to respond in writing and either move forward with an evaluation or explain in writing why it is refusing. Put your request in writing and keep a copy.
The FIE is not just paperwork — it is your child's story told in data, and it determines what support they will receive in school. Understanding what it covers, who conducts it, and what your rights are as a parent puts you in a far stronger position at every step of the process.
The evaluation is where the process starts. The ARD meeting is where decisions are made. Showing up to that meeting informed and prepared is one of the most important things you can do for your child.
Once the FIE is complete, the ARD meeting is where it all comes together — and where the details of your child's IEP are determined. Don't walk in unprepared.
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