South · FL
Florida special education IEP compliance and timelines
Governing regulations: Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.03011 to 6A-6.0361; § 1003.57, Fla. Stat.. State education agency: Florida Department of Education.
- Initial evaluation
- 60 calendar days after receipt of parent consent, not counting school holidays, Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks, or summer; absences of more than 8 school days are also excluded.
- Initial IEP meeting
- A meeting to develop the initial IEP within 30 calendar days of the eligibility determination. (Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.03028; 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 14, earlier than the federal age of 16.
- Academic standards
- Florida's B.E.S.T. Standards
- IEP forms & systems
- No single statewide IEP platform; districts use vendor or district-built systems and report through the FDOE automated student database.
Where Florida differs from the federal baseline
- Since July 1, 2015, the evaluation clock is 60 calendar days with exclusions for breaks and summer, replacing the earlier 60 cumulative school days rule.
- Parent and district may agree in writing to extend the timeline by up to 30 calendar days, but the agreement must be signed before day 45.
- Transition planning must begin before the student turns 14, and the IEP must address the student's diploma pathway (§ 1003.5716, Fla. Stat.).
- Programs are called Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and also cover gifted students under state rule.
Current monitoring priorities
- Indicator 11 timely evaluations under the calendar day rule
- ESE monitoring and assistance plans for districts
- Indicator 13 transition planning from age 14
FL IEP compliance checklist
- 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 calendar days of the eligibility determination.
- 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 14 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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