Special Education Timelines - IEP Meetings, Reevaluations, and Discipline

Oct 14, 2026

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Special Education Timelines (Illinois Edition) provides a fact sheet detailing legally defined deadlines for families navigating key special education processes. It covers initial evaluation and IEP development, written notice of eligibility, and timelines for IEP meeting requests. It also explains reevaluation timing, Stay Put placement protections during disputes, and manifestation determination reviews related to discipline and removals. Additional conflict-resolution steps include record production windows and due process hearing filing and response deadlines under relevant statutes.

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Initial Evaluation

IEP Meetings, Reevaluations, and Discipline

Conflict Resolution

SPECIAL EDUCATION RIGHTS: ILLINOIS EDITION Special Education Timelines This fact sheet answers questions on timelines for: •Evaluations and Reevaluations •IEPs •Stay Put •Due Process •And More Equip for Equality is the federally mandated Protection & Advocacy System for the State of Illinois. This Special Education Rights Series is available for free online to parents of children with disabilities. Anyone else wishing to reproduce or use this Special Education Rights Series should contact Equip for Equality to seek advance permission. Copyright © 2019 by Equip for Equality, Inc. All rights reserved. SPECIAL EDUCATION Initial Evaluation | Event | Timeframe | Explanation | Statute | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Respond to a
Request for an Evaluation
and Get Parent Consent | Within 14 schooldays | After you ask (in writing), the school can say no to the request in writing, explaining why the evaluation isn’t needed, or it can verbally say yes and get your signature (within the 14 schooldays) to move forward. | 23 ILAC 226.110 | | Complete Evaluation and Hold IEP (Individualized Education Program) Meeting | Within 60 schooldays after getting your consent | Once you say yes to testing, the school has 60 school days to test your child and have a meeting to discuss if your child is eligible for special education.
If you ask for an evaluation with less than 60 days left in the school year, the team still must agree or say no to the evaluation (in writing) within 14 school days. If the team agrees testing is needed, the tests and meeting will be held over the summer. | 23 ILAC 226.110 | | Provide Written Notice of Eligibility | Within 10 schooldays after the eligibility meeting | After your meeting to determine eligibility, the school has 10 school days to send you a letter saying if your child will get special education services or not. | 23 ILAC 226.110 | | Finalize IEP | Within 30 calendar days of being found eligible for an IEP | Once your child is found to bein need of special education, the school has 30 calendar days to finalize the IEP based on the evaluations. | 23 ILAC 226.110 | [2](2 www.equipforequality.org)[ www.equipforequality.org](2 www.equipforequality.org) Special Education Timelines IEP Meetings, Reevaluations, and Discipline | Event | Timeframe | Explanation | Statute | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Respond to an IEP Meeting Request | Within 10 calendar days from the date of asking | The school has 10 calendar days to respond to a request for an IEP meeting made by you ora teacher. The school does not need to agree to the meeting, but they do need to say why they are refusing to meet. | 23 ILAC 226.220 | | Reevaluation | At least every 3 years, but not more than 1 time per year | Your child with an IEP must be retested in all areas of her disability at least every three years. However, she can be tested more frequently if there is reason to believe her needs have changed. | 34 CFR 300.303 | | Freeze Your Child’s Placement, Eligibility, or Services (StayPut) | Within 10 calendar days after a change | Your have 10 calendar days to challenge, in writing, a change in your child’s IEP. Invoking stay-put allows your child’s old IEP to stay in place until the problem can be fixed. This must be done with a Mediation request or Due Process complaint. | 105 ILCS 5/14- 8.02a(j) | | Have a Manifestation Determination Review (MDR) After Your Child Is Referred for Expulsion or Suspended for 10 Days in a Row or for 10 Total Days for Similar Types of Problems During the School Year | Within 10 schooldays after the last incident | If your child is referred for expulsion or suspended for more than 10 days in a row or for 10 total days for similar behavior in one school year, the school must hold an IEP meeting to see if the behaviors were caused by her disability. If the team thinks the event was not caused by your child’s disability, the school can expel your child, but your child is still enti

FAQs

What is the timeline after a parent requests an initial evaluation and gives consent?

After the parent makes a written request, the school responds within 14 schooldays. Once consent is obtained, the school completes the evaluation and holds the IEP meeting within 60 schooldays after consent.

How quickly must the school send written notice of eligibility after an eligibility meeting?

The school must provide written notice of eligibility within 10 schooldays after the eligibility meeting.

What deadlines apply to conflict resolution and due process hearings?

The school must provide educational records within 10 business days (with a possible extension of 5 business days). Parents must file for due process within 2 calendar years, and the school must forward a request to appoint a hearing officer within 5 calendar days after being asked.

Oct 14, 2026

Upload by Elsa