South · SC
South Carolina special education IEP compliance and timelines
Governing regulations: S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 43-243 (Special Education Programs); S.C. Code Ann. § 59-33-10 et seq.. State education agency: South Carolina Department of Education.
- Initial evaluation
- South Carolina follows the federal timeline: the initial evaluation must be conducted within 60 calendar days of receiving parental consent for evaluation.
- Initial IEP meeting
- A meeting to develop the IEP must be held within 30 calendar days of the eligibility determination. (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, and not more than once a year unless the parent and district agree (34 CFR § 300.303).
- Transition planning
- Must be in effect by age 16.
- Academic standards
- South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards
- IEP forms & systems
- No single mandated statewide IEP system. Districts choose their own IEP software and report special education data to SCDE.
Where South Carolina differs from the federal baseline
- South Carolina adopts the federal 60 calendar day initial evaluation timeline by regulation rather than setting a different state clock.
- State Board Regulation 43-243 governs special education programs and incorporates IDEA Part B requirements.
- The SCDE Office of Special Education Services investigates state complaints, including complaints about missed evaluation timelines.
Current monitoring priorities
- Initial evaluation timeline compliance (Indicator 11)
- Secondary transition IEP content (Indicator 13)
- Correction of noncompliance within one year
SC 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 IEP must be held 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 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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