The Ready Seat. IEP Guide.
IEP timelines and deadlines
Last reviewed September 6, 2026. Every deadline below is the federal rule from the IDEA regulations at 34 CFR Part 300. States may set shorter timelines or count school days instead of calendar days; check your state’s procedural safeguards notice. Educational information, not legal advice.
QUICK ANSWER
Quick answer: under federal rules, a school district must complete an initial special education evaluation within 60 days of receiving a parent’s written consent unless the state sets its own timeline (34 CFR 300.301(c)(1)); must hold the IEP meeting within 30 days of finding a child eligible (34 CFR 300.323(c)(1)); must review the IEP at least once a year (34 CFR 300.324(b)); must reevaluate at least every three years (34 CFR 300.303(b)); and must let parents inspect records within 45 days and before any IEP meeting (34 CFR 300.613(a)). The table below lists 16 federal clocks with their citations.
Two things to know before you count. First, the unit matters: most federal deadlines are calendar days, but some states use school days, and 60 school days can stretch across a semester. Second, most clocks start on a written event, such as the date the district receives your signed consent, which is why a dated paper trail is the whole game.
The federal IEP clocks in one table
Initial evaluation: Federal deadline: 60 days (or the state’s timeline). Starts when: District receives parental consent for evaluation. Citation: 34 CFR 300.301(c)(1).
Evaluation report to parent: Federal deadline: At no cost, once the evaluation is done. Starts when: Eligibility determination. Citation: 34 CFR 300.306(a)(2).
IEP meeting after eligibility: Federal deadline: Within 30 days. Starts when: Determination that the child needs special education. Citation: 34 CFR 300.323(c)(1).
IEP in effect: Federal deadline: At the beginning of each school year. Starts when: Start of the school year. Citation: 34 CFR 300.323(a).
Meeting notice to parents: Federal deadline: Early enough to ensure the opportunity to attend. Starts when: Before the meeting. Citation: 34 CFR 300.322(a)(1).
Annual IEP review: Federal deadline: Periodically, and not less than once every 12 months. Starts when: Last IEP meeting. Citation: 34 CFR 300.324(b)(1)(i).
Reevaluation: Federal deadline: At least every 3 years; not more than once a year unless agreed. Starts when: Last evaluation. Citation: 34 CFR 300.303(b).
Access to education records: Federal deadline: Without unnecessary delay, before any IEP meeting or hearing, and never more than 45 days. Starts when: Parent’s request. Citation: 34 CFR 300.613(a).
Prior written notice: Federal deadline: A reasonable time before the district acts. Starts when: District proposes or refuses a change. Citation: 34 CFR 300.503(a).
Independent educational evaluation: Federal deadline: District must act without unnecessary delay. Starts when: Parent’s request for an IEE at public expense. Citation: 34 CFR 300.502(b)(2).
Transition planning: Federal deadline: In the first IEP in effect when the child turns 16, or younger if the team decides. Starts when: Child’s 16th birthday. Citation: 34 CFR 300.320(b).
Manifestation determination: Federal deadline: Within 10 school days. Starts when: Decision to change placement for discipline. Citation: 34 CFR 300.530(e)(1).
State complaint filing window: Federal deadline: Within 1 year of the alleged violation. Starts when: The violation. Citation: 34 CFR 300.153(c).
State complaint decision: Federal deadline: 60 days, unless exceptional circumstances. Starts when: State receives the complaint. Citation: 34 CFR 300.152(a).
Due process filing window: Federal deadline: 2 years (unless the state sets a different limit). Starts when: Parent knew or should have known of the issue. Citation: 34 CFR 300.507(a)(2).
Resolution meeting and hearing decision: Federal deadline: Resolution meeting within 15 days; hearing decision within 45 days after the 30-day resolution period. Starts when: District receives the due process complaint. Citation: 34 CFR 300.510(a), 300.515(a).
Clock
Federal deadline
Starts when
Where it is written
Initial evaluation
60 days (or the state’s timeline)
District receives parental consent for evaluation
34 CFR 300.301(c)(1)
Evaluation report to parent
At no cost, once the evaluation is done
Eligibility determination
34 CFR 300.306(a)(2)
IEP meeting after eligibility
Within 30 days
Determination that the child needs special education
34 CFR 300.323(c)(1)
IEP in effect
At the beginning of each school year
Start of the school year
34 CFR 300.323(a)
Meeting notice to parents
Early enough to ensure the opportunity to attend
Before the meeting
34 CFR 300.322(a)(1)
Annual IEP review
Periodically, and not less than once every 12 months
Last IEP meeting
34 CFR 300.324(b)(1)(i)
Reevaluation
At least every 3 years; not more than once a year unless agreed
Last evaluation
34 CFR 300.303(b)
Access to education records
Without unnecessary delay, before any IEP meeting or hearing, and never more than 45 days
Parent’s request
34 CFR 300.613(a)
Prior written notice
A reasonable time before the district acts
District proposes or refuses a change
34 CFR 300.503(a)
Independent educational evaluation
District must act without unnecessary delay
Parent’s request for an IEE at public expense
34 CFR 300.502(b)(2)
Transition planning
In the first IEP in effect when the child turns 16, or younger if the team decides
Child’s 16th birthday
34 CFR 300.320(b)
Manifestation determination
Within 10 school days
Decision to change placement for discipline
34 CFR 300.530(e)(1)
State complaint filing window
Within 1 year of the alleged violation
The violation
34 CFR 300.153(c)
State complaint decision
60 days, unless exceptional circumstances
State receives the complaint
34 CFR 300.152(a)
Due process filing window
2 years (unless the state sets a different limit)
Parent knew or should have known of the issue
34 CFR 300.507(a)(2)
Resolution meeting and hearing decision
Resolution meeting within 15 days; hearing decision within 45 days after the 30-day resolution period
District receives the due process complaint
34 CFR 300.510(a), 300.515(a)
Calendar days or school days? Read the unit
The federal evaluation rule says 60 days, and the regulations define “day” as calendar day unless the rule says business day or school day (34 CFR 300.11). Several states have adopted their own evaluation timelines under the state-timeline exception, and some of them count school days. Sixty school days that begin in late May can end in October. When you read your state’s rule in the procedural safeguards notice, find the unit before you find the number.
A few clocks are written in school days at the federal level on purpose, such as the 10 school days for a manifestation determination (34 CFR 300.530(e)). Those count only days school is in session.
What starts each clock
The evaluation clock starts when the district receives your signed consent, not when you first asked (34 CFR 300.301(c)(1)). Sign promptly and write the date down.
The 30-day IEP meeting clock starts on the date the team determines your child is eligible (34 CFR 300.323(c)(1)).
The 45-day records clock starts on the date of your request, and the district must also produce records before any IEP meeting or hearing, whichever comes first (34 CFR 300.613(a)).
The manifestation determination clock starts on the date of the decision to change placement for discipline (34 CFR 300.530(e)).
The due process resolution clock starts when the district receives the complaint (34 CFR 300.510(a)).
Because so many clocks start on a written event, the kit’s logs record the date, the recipient, and the delivery method for every letter you send.
What to do when a deadline passes
Start with a short, dated letter that names the deadline, the date it started, and the regulation, and asks for a written explanation and a new date. Many delays end there. If they do not, the options are mediation (34 CFR 300.506), a state complaint, which is designed for timeline violations and must be decided within 60 days (34 CFR 300.151 to 300.153), or a due process complaint (34 CFR 300.507). A missed timeline is a procedural violation; whether it amounts to a denial of a free appropriate public education depends on its effect on the child and the parent’s participation (34 CFR 300.513(a)(2)).
Common questions about IEP timelines
Does the 60-day evaluation clock pause over summer?
Not under the federal rule, which counts calendar days from consent (34 CFR 300.301(c)(1), 300.11). Some states that use school days effectively pause over breaks. The federal rule does allow exceptions when a child moves districts mid-evaluation or when a parent repeatedly fails to make the child available (34 CFR 300.301(d)).
How soon before the IEP meeting must the school notify me?
The regulation requires notice early enough to ensure you have an opportunity to attend, and the meeting must be at a mutually agreed time and place (34 CFR 300.322(a)). There is no federal number of days; many states and districts set one. If the proposed date does not work, propose alternatives in writing.
How long does the school have to implement the IEP once it is written?
Services must be made available as soon as possible following the meeting that develops the IEP (34 CFR 300.323(c)(2)). The IEP itself must state the projected date services begin (34 CFR 300.320(a)(7)), so ask for that date and check it.
Is there a deadline for the school to answer my request for an evaluation?
The federal rule requires prior written notice a reasonable time before the district acts on your request, whether it proposes to evaluate or refuses (34 CFR 300.503(a)). Some states set a specific number of days to respond. Your state’s procedural safeguards notice lists it.