West · CA

California special education IEP compliance and timelines

Governing regulations: Cal. Educ. Code §§ 56000 et seq.; 5 CCR §§ 3000 et seq.. State education agency: California Department of Education.

Initial evaluation: 60 calendar days from receipt of signed consent to the assessment plan, not counting school vacations of more than 5 school days; the IEP meeting falls inside the same 60 days.
Initial IEP meeting: The IEP meeting to determine eligibility and develop the initial IEP must be held within the same 60 day window that starts at consent. (Cal. Educ. Code § 56344(a))
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: California Common Core State Standards
IEP forms & systems: SEIS is used by many California LEAs; there is no single mandated statewide IEP form, and SELPAs set local forms.

Where California differs from the federal baseline

The district must give parents a proposed assessment plan within 15 calendar days of a referral, and parents have at least 15 days to decide (Cal. Educ. Code § 56043(a)-(b)).
Parents and districts may audio record IEP meetings with at least 24 hours' notice (Cal. Educ. Code § 56341.1(g)).
Parents may obtain copies of education records within 5 business days of a request (Cal. Educ. Code § 56504).
Special education is organized through Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs), which hold local plans and often set IEP forms.

01Signed consent date recorded; evaluation due within 60 calendar days.
02Eligibility determined and initial IEP meeting scheduled: The IEP meeting to determine eligibility and develop the initial IEP must be held within the same 60 day window that starts at consent.
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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