IEP TIMELINES
IEP services must be provided as soon as possible after the PPT develops the IEP
The written IEP must be sent to the parents within five school days of the PPT meeting at which the IEP was developed.
IEP services must be provided as soon as possible after the PPT develops the IEP. SDE advises that a reasonable time for school districts to begin to provide IEP services is 10 school days after the parents have received a written copy of the IEP.
Connecticut and Federal regulations have somewhat different IEP timeline requirements. Connecticut: the child’s first IEP must be implemented no later than 45 school days from the date of the referral for special education or 60 school days for an out-of-district or private placement. Federal: the PPT must complete the child’s initial evaluation regarding eligibility within 60 calendar days from the date of the referral for special education AND must meet to develop the first IEP within 30 calendar days after determining that the child needs special education services. Neither of these timeframes includes whatever time it takes to obtain parental consent for evaluation and parental consent for providing special education.
SDE has indicated that the child’s evaluation must meet the Connecticut timeline requirements.
When using the “45 school days” timeframe: If the referral has been made during a summer school vacation, the effective date of the referral is the first school day of the next school year.
Parents must have 10 school days to review the written IEP before PPT decisions take effect. However, the parents and school district can agree to an earlier start date for the services.
Except for the first IEP, there is no specific timeline for the implementation of an IEP other than the “as soon as possible” mandate.