ISBE Responses to Questions Regarding 34-54 and 34-57 Form Updates - January 2026

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Damian

Article 14-8.02(g) of the Illinois School Code (ILCS) mandates uniform special-education notices for all districts. These ISBE materials explain updates to the 34-57 Required Notice and Consent forms, including requirements tied to IDEA and 23 Illinois Administrative Code (IAC) 226. The Q&A addresses whether parental consent is needed before drafting an initial IEP, how to apply the three-day draft waiver in evaluation and IEP timelines, limits on selective consent for services, and when additional notice requirements apply for assessment meetings and related conferences.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

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ISBE Responses to Questions Regarding 34-54 and 34-57 Form Updates

Consent timing and initial IEP drafting

Waiver of the three-day draft requirement

Limits on refusal or selective consent

Required notice for assessment meetings

ISBE Responses to Questions Regarding 34- 54 and 34-57 Form Updates January 2026 Article 14-8.02(g) of the School Code of Illinois (ILCS) requires the development of uniform notices within special education to be used by all school districts. The 34-57 Required Notice and Consent forms have been developed to obtain required informed consent from parent(s)/guardian(s) as well as provide proper parent/guardian notification of specific types of proposed or refused actions for a child being considered for or receiving special education and related services. The forms and procedures incorporate various requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and 23 Illinois Administrative Code (IAC) 226. As the 34-54 IEP forms are template forms, the district has the discretion to make changes to the version of the form that they utilize at any time. Districts who use their own versions of the 34-54 IEP Forms must ensure that the forms utilized include all required regulatory components. Q1: The Explanation of ISBE 34-57 Form Changes states that, per the updates to Form 34-57F, districts are not required to draft an IEP/convene an IEP meeting prior to obtaining informed consent for the initial provision of special education services. Does this mean that districts must obtain parental consent for the initial provision of special education services prior to drafting the IEP? If district practice is to draft the IEP prior to obtaining consent, does this need to change? A1: No, the changes to 34-57F do not require that parental consent be obtained prior to drafting the initial IEP. The relevant language was updated to be consistent with 34 CFR 300 . 300(b)(3)(iii), which provides that the district is not required to convene an IEP Team meeting or develop an IEP for the child if the parent fails to respond to a request for, or refuses to consent to, the initial provision of special education and related services. That said, this change does not prevent districts from agreeing to develop the IEP prior to obtaining consent. In conjunction with this, the language in 34-57F was updated to clarify that, in the scenario where the IEP is developed prior to the provision of consent, consent is still necessary for special education services to commence generally. Q2: The Consent for Initial Evaluation (34-57B) and Consent for Reevaluation (34-57C) forms now include language regarding the waiver of the three-day draft requirement. How and when should this section be used? Is it only to be completed when applicable and otherwise left blank? A2: Yes, this section should only be completed when applicable and otherwise be left blank. An example of when this may be appropriate is when a district is conducting the Identification of Needed Assessments, Eligibility Determination, and IEP Meeting on the same day or in a series of days. The waiver should not be completed unless the Eligibility Determination and/or IEP Meeting has already been scheduled and will occur in less than three-school days from the provision of consent for the evaluation. Districts may consider using similar language to obtain consent to waive the three-day draft requirement in situations where evaluations have been completed and the district intends to convene the Eligibility Determination and, if appropriate, the IEP Meeting on the same day. Please consult your legal counsel to determine what the district needs to do to meet its obligations based on the individual situation. Please note that, when consent to waive the three-day draft requirement is provided, the district is still obligated to provide draft paperwork ahead of the meeting. It is only the three-day timeline that is being waived, not the right to draft paperwork. Further, a parent/guardian providing consent to waive the three-day draft requirement only applies to that upcoming meeting, it does not constitute a general waiver of the threeday timeline for all future drafts. Finally

FAQs

Do districts need parental consent before drafting the initial IEP under the updated 34-57F form?

No. The updates to 34-57F clarify that parental consent is not required before drafting the initial IEP in this context. The language aligns with federal IDEA regulations referenced in the document.

When should the waiver of the three-day draft requirement section in Forms 34-57B and 34-57C be used?

Complete the section only when applicable; otherwise leave it blank. It may apply when eligibility determination and/or the IEP meeting are scheduled in fewer than three school days after consent for evaluation, such as when those steps occur on the same day or in a short series of days.

Can a parent consent to some special education services but withhold consent for others?

No. The document states this language does not permit consent to specific services while withholding consent to other services. It reflects existing federal regulatory language.

Are districts required to convene assessment meetings and send notices when multiple meetings occur on the same day?

Yes. The document indicates districts must convene an evaluation team as required by 23 IAC 226 and identify necessary assessments. It also addresses how required notice obligations apply when multiple conferences (e.g., identification of needed assessments and eligibility determination) are held on the same day.

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Damian