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Midwest · WI

Wisconsin special education IEP compliance and timelines

Governing regulations: Wis. Stat. Chapter 115, Subchapter V; Wis. Admin. Code Chapter PI 11. State education agency: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Initial evaluation
The IEP team must determine whether the child has a disability within 60 calendar days after the LEA receives parental consent for evaluation. Statutory exceptions apply, and DPI does not grant extensions.
Initial IEP meeting
If the child is found eligible, the IEP team must develop an IEP and determine placement within 30 days of the eligibility determination, with no exceptions. (Wis. Stat. § 115.78(3))
Annual review
At least once a year (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(5); 34 CFR § 300.324(b)(1)).
Reevaluation
At least every 3 years, and not more than once a year unless the parent and LEA agree (Wis. Stat. § 115.782(4)).
Transition planning
Must be in effect by age 14, earlier than the federal age of 16.
Academic standards
Wisconsin Academic Standards
IEP forms & systems
No single mandated statewide IEP software. DPI publishes sample special education forms that most vendor platforms reproduce.

Where Wisconsin differs from the federal baseline

  • Two statutory clocks apply: 60 days from consent to the eligibility decision and 30 days from eligibility to an IEP and placement (Wis. Stat. § 115.78(3)).
  • DPI cannot extend either timeline, and DPI complaint decisions treat missed deadlines as violations.
  • Transition statements must appear in the IEP in effect when the child turns 14 (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(2)(g)).
  • Eligibility criteria for each impairment area, including specific learning disability, are set in Wis. Admin. Code PI 11.36.
  • Consent for evaluation is not consent for initial placement, which requires separate parental consent.

Current monitoring priorities

  • Timely initial evaluations reported through WISEdata (Indicator 11)
  • Secondary transition IEP content beginning at age 14 (Indicator 13)
  • Procedural compliance self-assessment and correction of noncompliance
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

WI IEP compliance checklist

  1. 01Signed consent date recorded; evaluation due within 60 calendar days.
  2. 02Eligibility determined and initial IEP meeting scheduled: If the child is found eligible, the IEP team must develop an IEP and determine placement within 30 days of the eligibility determination, with no exceptions.
  3. 03PLAAFP includes measurable baselines and a statement of how the disability affects involvement in the general curriculum (34 CFR § 300.320(a)(1)).
  4. 04Each annual goal is measurable, with condition, behavior, criterion and measurement method (§ 300.320(a)(2)).
  5. 05Progress reporting schedule stated for each goal (§ 300.320(a)(3)).
  6. 06Transition goals and services in effect by age 14 where applicable.
  7. 07Prior Written Notice issued for every proposal or refusal, with all seven § 300.503(b) elements.
  8. 08Annual review scheduled within 365 days; reevaluation within 3 years.
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