Northeast · PA
Pennsylvania special education IEP compliance and timelines
Governing regulations: 22 Pa. Code Chapter 14 (Special Education Services and Programs); 22 Pa. Code Chapter 16 (Special Education for Gifted Students). State education agency: Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- Initial evaluation
- The initial evaluation must be completed and the evaluation report presented to the parents within 60 calendar days of the district receiving written parental consent (the Permission to Evaluate), excluding the calendar days from the last day of the spring term to the first day of the fall term.
- Initial IEP meeting
- The IEP team must meet to develop the IEP within 30 calendar days of the issuance of the evaluation report, and the IEP must be implemented as soon as possible, but no later than 10 school days after its completion. The evaluation report goes to parents at least 10 school days before the IEP meeting unless they waive this in writing. (22 Pa. Code § 14.131; 22 Pa. Code § 14.123)
- Annual review
- At least once every 365 days (34 CFR § 300.324(b)(1), incorporated by 22 Pa. Code § 14.102).
- Reevaluation
- At least every 3 years; every 2 years for students with an intellectual disability (22 Pa. Code § 14.124).
- Transition planning
- Must be in effect by age 14, earlier than the federal age of 16.
- Academic standards
- Pennsylvania Academic Standards
- IEP forms & systems
- No single statewide IEP software. PDE publishes required-content IEP, Permission to Evaluate and NOREP/PWN formats through PaTTAN, and LEAs and intermediate units choose their own platforms.
Where Pennsylvania differs from the federal baseline
- The 60 calendar day evaluation clock excludes the summer recess between the spring and fall terms (22 Pa. Code § 14.123(b)).
- The evaluation report must reach parents at least 10 school days before the IEP meeting unless the parent waives this in writing (22 Pa. Code § 14.123).
- Transition planning begins in the IEP for the year the student turns 14, two years earlier than the federal baseline (22 Pa. Code § 14.131).
- Students with an intellectual disability must be reevaluated every 2 years, not 3 (22 Pa. Code § 14.124).
- Gifted students receive a Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP) under the separate 22 Pa. Code Chapter 16.
Current monitoring priorities
- Compliance with the 60-day evaluation and 30-day IEP timelines (Indicator 11)
- Least restrictive environment and inclusive placement data
- Secondary transition IEP content beginning at age 14 (Indicator 13)
PA IEP compliance checklist
- 01Signed consent date recorded; evaluation due within 60 calendar days.
- 02Eligibility determined and initial IEP meeting scheduled: The IEP team must meet to develop the IEP within 30 calendar days of the issuance of the evaluation report, and the IEP must be implemented as soon as possible, but no later than 10 school days after its completion. The evaluation report goes to parents at least 10 school days before the IEP meeting unless they waive this in writing.
- 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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