What starts the 60-day evaluation clock?

The clock starts when the school receives your written consent for the evaluation—not when you first make the request. That's why it's important to respond to the school's consent form promptly once they agree to evaluate, and to keep a copy of the dated, signed form for your records.

Can I request an IEP meeting outside of the annual review schedule?

Yes. You can request an IEP meeting at any time if you believe your child's needs have changed or that the current plan isn't working. Submit your request in writing to the special education coordinator so there is a dated record of when you asked.

What is a Prior Written Notice (PWN) and when must the school provide one?

A Prior Written Notice is a written document the school must give you whenever they propose or refuse to identify, evaluate, or change the placement of your child (20 U.S.C. § 1415(b)(3); 34 C.F.R. § 300.503). It must explain what the school is doing or not doing, why, and what alternatives were considered. If you've never received one, you can ask the school to provide it.

My state's timeline is different from the federal 60-day rule. Which one applies?

Whichever rule is stricter applies to your child. Federal law sets a minimum floor—states are free to create shorter timelines, and many do. Contact your State Education Agency or look up your state's special education regulations to find the exact deadline in your state.

What happens if the school misses an IEP deadline?

Start by contacting the school in writing and asking for a status update—most delays are resolved quickly at this level. If the issue continues, you can file a State Complaint with your State Education Agency, which must be investigated within 60 days. For significant or ongoing issues affecting your child's education, consider consulting a qualified special education advocate or attorney.

Does my child have the right to services while we wait for the IEP to be finalized?

Once a child is found eligible, the goal of IDEA is for services to begin as soon as possible—FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) under 20 U.S.C. § 1401(9) cannot be delayed indefinitely. If services haven't started within the expected timeframe after the IEP is written, contact the special education coordinator in writing and request a start date in the response.

The IEP Process Timeline: Deadlines Parents Should Know

Every family's journey through special education starts with a question: how long is this supposed to take? Whether you just submitted a referral for your child or you're wondering why an annual review hasn't happened yet, understanding the IEP timeline gives you the clearest possible picture of what the school is required to do—and when. The federal law that governs all of this is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), found at 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. It sets minimum deadlines that apply in every state, though many states have added their own stricter rules on top.

Step 1: Requesting an Initial Evaluation

The IEP process begins the moment someone suspects a child may have a disability that affects their education. That someone can be you (the parent), a teacher, a doctor, or the school itself.

Your right to request: Under 20 U.S.C. § 1414(a)(1) and 34 C.F.R. § 300.301, you have the right to submit a written request for an initial evaluation at any time. Putting your request in writing—dated and signed—starts the clock officially and creates a record.

What the school must do next: The school must respond to your request by either agreeing to evaluate or declining. If they decline, they must send you a Prior Written Notice (PWN)—more on that below. If they agree, they must obtain your written consent before the evaluation begins.

Practical tip: Send your written request by email or certified mail so you have a timestamp. Keep a copy for your own records.

Step 2: The 60-Day Evaluation Window

Once you give written consent for the evaluation, the clock starts ticking.

Federal rule: IDEA requires the initial evaluation to be completed within 60 days of receiving parental consent (34 C.F.R. § 300.301(c)(1)).
State variations: Some states have shorter windows—for example, certain states require completion within 30 or 45 days. Check your state's special education regulations, because the stricter state rule always applies.
What the evaluation covers: The school must assess your child in all areas of suspected disability—academic, cognitive, behavioral, speech/language, motor, and more. No single test can be the only basis for the decision.
No cost to you: Evaluations conducted by the school are always free to families.

If the evaluation window passes without action, contact the special education director in writing and reference 34 C.F.R. § 300.301. Document every communication.

Step 3: The Eligibility Meeting

After the evaluation is complete, the school must hold an eligibility meeting—sometimes called a "staffing" or "MDT (multidisciplinary team) meeting"—to review the results together.

The team decides whether your child meets the criteria for one of IDEA's 13 disability categories and whether that disability requires specially designed instruction.
You are a full member of this team. You have the right to bring someone who knows your child—a family friend, therapist, or advocate—to this meeting.
The school must provide you with a copy of the evaluation report and the eligibility determination in writing. That written notification is the Prior Written Notice (PWN), required by 20 U.S.C. § 1415(b)(3) and 34 C.F.R. § 300.503.

PWN defined: A Prior Written Notice is a formal written document the school must give you whenever they propose or refuse to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, or placement of your child. It must explain what they are doing, why, and what alternatives were considered.

Step 4: Developing the IEP — The 30-Day Window

If your child is found eligible, the IEP must be developed and put into place promptly.

Federal rule: IDEA requires that once a child is determined eligible, the IEP must be in effect as soon as possible—and most states interpret this as within 30 days of the eligibility determination.
The IEP meeting brings together parents, general and special education teachers, a school administrator, and any specialists relevant to your child's needs.
The IEP itself must include present levels of performance, measurable annual goals, the services to be provided, and how progress will be measured—all flowing from the goal of providing your child a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1401(9) and 34 C.F.R. § 300.17.

FAPE defined: A Free Appropriate Public Education means special education and related services that are provided at no cost to the family, meet state educational standards, and are tailored to your child's unique needs through an appropriate IEP.

Step 5: Annual IEP Reviews

An IEP is not a set-it-and-forget-it document. IDEA requires the IEP team to meet at least once every 12 months to review and update the plan.

You can request a review meeting at any time if you believe your child's needs have changed—don't wait for the annual date.
The school must send you written notice of the meeting with enough advance time for you to attend and prepare.
If you cannot attend in person, the team can use phone or video conferencing.
Any changes made to the IEP must be reflected in writing, and you should receive an updated copy.

If a year has passed and no review has been scheduled, send a written request to the special education coordinator referencing your child's last IEP date.

Step 6: The Three-Year Reevaluation

Every three years (sometimes called a "triennial"), the school must conduct a full reevaluation to confirm your child still has a disability and still needs special education services.

You can request a reevaluation sooner if you believe significant changes have occurred—IDEA allows a reevaluation no more than once per year (unless both parties agree otherwise) and at least every three years.
You must again provide written consent for the reevaluation.
The same 60-day window that applies to initial evaluations applies here as well.

A Quick-Reference IEP Timeline Summary

Stage	Federal Deadline
School responds to evaluation request	Promptly; must provide PWN if declining
Initial evaluation completed	Within 60 days of parental consent
Eligibility meeting held	After evaluation; before IEP development
IEP developed and in effect	Promptly after eligibility (often 30 days)
Annual IEP review	At least every 12 months
Reevaluation	At least every 3 years

Always check your state's regulations—many states have shorter deadlines than the federal minimums.

What to Do If Deadlines Are Missed

Missing a deadline doesn't automatically mean your child's rights have been violated, but it does mean you should act quickly and calmly:

Document everything. Note the date the deadline passed and gather any written communications.
Contact the school in writing. Ask for a status update and reference the relevant deadline. Most delays are administrative and resolve quickly.
Reach out to your State Education Agency (SEA). Every state has a special education complaint process for procedural violations.
Consult a qualified advocate or special education attorney if the delay is significantly impacting your child or if you feel your concerns are not being heard.

Knowing the IEP timeline means you can ask the right questions at the right time—and that makes all the difference for your child.