South · MS
Mississippi special education IEP compliance and timelines
Governing regulations: 7 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 34 (State Policies Regarding Children with Disabilities under IDEA, State Board Policy 7219). State education agency: Mississippi Department of Education.
- Initial evaluation
- 60 calendar days from receipt of parental consent for the initial evaluation.
- Initial IEP meeting
- A meeting to develop the initial IEP within 30 calendar days of the eligibility determination. (7 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 34, § 300.323)
- 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
- Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards
- IEP forms & systems
- No single statewide IEP platform; districts use vendor systems, with MDE procedures manuals setting required content.
Where Mississippi differs from the federal baseline
- Prior written notice must go to parents within 7 calendar days after the meeting that reviews a referral.
- MDE issues procedures volumes under State Board Policy 7219 covering evaluation, IEP and secondary transition practice.
- Mississippi's dyslexia laws provide screening and dyslexia therapy pathways that operate alongside IDEA eligibility.
Current monitoring priorities
- Indicator 11 timely initial evaluations
- District file reviews against State Board Policy 7219
- Indicator 13 secondary transition IEP content
MS 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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