West · AZ

Arizona special education IEP compliance and timelines

Governing regulations: Ariz. Admin. Code R7-2-401. State education agency: Arizona Department of Education.

Initial evaluation: 60 calendar days from receipt of informed written consent, including school breaks; may be extended once by 30 days if the parent and school agree in writing.
Initial IEP meeting: A meeting to develop the initial IEP within 30 days of the eligibility determination, per the federal rule Arizona applies. (34 CFR § 300.323(c)(1))
Annual review: At least once every 365 days (34 CFR § 300.324(b)(1)).
Reevaluation: At least every 3 years unless the parent and LEA agree it is unnecessary, and not more than once a year without agreement (34 CFR § 300.303).
Transition planning: Must be in effect by age 16.
Academic standards: Arizona's Academic Standards
IEP forms & systems: No single statewide IEP platform; LEAs and charter schools use vendor systems, with ADE guidance on required content.

Where Arizona differs from the federal baseline

The 60 day clock can be extended by 30 days only when it serves the child and the parent and public agency agree in writing.
An extension cannot push a reevaluation past the three year deadline.
Arizona has a large charter sector in which each charter is its own LEA responsible for child find and IEP compliance.

01Signed consent date recorded; evaluation due within 60 calendar days.
02Eligibility determined and initial IEP meeting scheduled: A meeting to develop the initial IEP within 30 days of the eligibility determination, per the federal rule Arizona applies.
03PLAAFP includes measurable baselines and a statement of how the disability affects involvement in the general curriculum (34 CFR § 300.320(a)(1)).
04Each annual goal is measurable, with condition, behavior, criterion and measurement method (§ 300.320(a)(2)).
05Progress reporting schedule stated for each goal (§ 300.320(a)(3)).
06Transition goals and services in effect by age 16 where applicable.
07Prior Written Notice issued for every proposal or refusal, with all seven § 300.503(b) elements.
08Annual review scheduled within 365 days; reevaluation within 3 years.

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