IEP timelines guide the IEP process by allowing parents to know what to expect while going through the IEP process.
Many parents start the IEP process wondering whether the district will respond and when. Here is a guide to many of the IEP timelines so that you can track where you are in the process.
From the time a parent sends a written request for assessment in all suspected areas of disability to their child’s school, the school has 15 calendar days to respond to the parents request. District can either agree to assess and send out a written assessment plan, or send a written notice that they decline to assess the student.
When the district has agreed to assess, the parent must agree, sign, and return the written assessment plan. Parents may take as long as they wish to sign. If a district has omitted testing in one or more areas, parents can still sign the assessment plan while documenting the missed areas of assessment. District cannot begin assessing until they have received the signed permission to assess.
From the day they receive the signed assessment plan, the district has 60 calendar days to assess the student and to call an IEP team meeting to discuss the results. The 60 day IEP timeline does not include breaks of 6 or more consecutive school days.
IEP timelines for implementing the IEP are straightforward. Once a parent signs an agreement for the IEP, the school team is responsible for implementing it right after receiving parental consent. What happens if the parent agrees with most of the document but not all of it? Making changes is possible, and can take time. Some districts take a month or longer to work with parents on the changes, others can be done more quickly. If parents have to call an IEP to correct errors in the present IEP, the district has 30 calendar days to schedule an IEP team meeting.
When a parent has not signed consent to any part of the IEP, then the district cannot implement the new goals and the new services. There are work-arounds on this, and we can help.
For help at your child’s next IEP meeting, more information about our special education advocacy services, or for a FREE 20-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit for you, call or email today!
As parents, we understand. As advocates, we can help.