IEP evaluations · federal deadline
Is your child's evaluation overdue?
Enter the date you signed consent, and see exactly where your district stands against the federal 60-day clock — then generate the letter to send if they've missed it.
Computes the federal floor only (34 CFR §300.301(c)(1)). If your state sets its own evaluation timeline, it can require completion sooner than the federal 60 days shown here — check your state's own special-education regulations. Informational only, not legal advice; nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere — this all runs in your browser.
How this is calculated
Last reviewed: September 2026
The formula
Deadline = date of parental consent + 60 calendar days. Under 34 CFR §300.301(c)(1), a school district “must conduct [an initial] evaluation within 60 days of receiving parental consent for the evaluation” — unless the state establishes its own timeframe. This is the federal implementing regulation for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), part of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The count is calendar days, not school days, and includes weekends and holidays.
What this doesn't cover
- State-specific timelines. A number of states set their own, often shorter, evaluation deadline. When a state has done this, it controls — the federal 60 days is a ceiling, not a guarantee. This tool shows the federal floor only.
- The request-to-consent gap. The clock modeled here starts at signed consent, not at your initial request for an evaluation. Time your district takes deciding whether to evaluate at all, before consent is signed, isn't covered by this 60-day rule.
- Reevaluations. This tool is for an initial evaluation. Triennial and other reevaluations run on a different regulatory timeline.
- Formal due process. The generated letter is an informal written notice, not a due-process complaint or a substitute for a special-education attorney or advocate.
Frequently asked questions
What if my state has a shorter evaluation deadline than 60 days?
This tool computes the federal floor set by 34 CFR §300.301(c)(1) — the deadline every state must meet at minimum. A number of states set their own, often shorter, timeline (for example, some require completion within 45 or 60 school days rather than 60 calendar days). If your state has done this, that deadline applies instead of the federal one, and it can arrive sooner than what's shown here. Check your state department of education's special-education regulations for a state-specific timeframe.
Does the 60-day clock start when I request an evaluation or when I sign consent?
It starts when the school district receives your signed consent for the evaluation — not when you first asked for one, and not when a meeting was scheduled. If you requested an evaluation but haven't yet signed a consent form, that's a separate step; the district generally has to respond to your request within a reasonable time before consent even comes into play.
What happens after I send this letter?
This letter puts your district on written notice and starts a paper trail — it's not a legal filing. A responsible district should respond with a completion date or an explanation. If the district doesn't respond or continues to miss deadlines, your next options include your state's special-education complaint process or requesting mediation, both described in the Procedural Safeguards Notice your district is required to give you.
Is this the same as filing a due process complaint?
No. This is an informal letter to open a dialogue and document the timeline — it doesn't start any legal proceeding. A due process complaint is a formal legal filing with its own rules and deadlines, typically handled with the help of a special-education attorney or advocate. This site doesn't generate those.
Related tools
Generate a formal, IDEA-cited letter requesting an IEP team meeting — to review the IEP, address a concern, or respond to a change in your child's needs.
Open tool →Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) Request Letter GeneratorGenerate a formal letter requesting an independent educational evaluation at public expense, citing your rights under 34 CFR §300.502.
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