The IEP Process and Timeline

It Takes a Team

As a part of our training and education, we are taught that it is "best practice" to treat parents as equal members at the IEP table-- to include them in every step of the decision making process-- and that in order to do that, we first have to educate them on what an IEP is and how it works. Quotes around "best practice" because this has become a buzzword in education that I believe is losing its effect as it is overused for under-researched strategies and practices...more on that another time though.

We are taught how to gently and respectfully initiate an evaluation with a student we believe would benefit from special education services. We are taught to explain each step of the process to parents so they can be active participants on their child's IEP team. We are taught to take all of the jargon that is found in an IEP and make it accessible and digestible for parents. We are taught ensure parents understood the benefits, impacts, and possible outcomes of having an IEP.

If you're reading this, and you are a parent of a child on an IEP, was this your experience? Did you feel empowered and supported by your child's school when you first started down the IEP journey? Your child may have been on an IEP for years at this point...do you understand why and when your child is re-evaluated? If you do, did they explain this to you or did you have to research the information on your own? I hope it was that your team taught you the process in a way that you aren't surprised by any steps of the process, but I'd sadly bet this wasn't your experience.

I'm not blaming teachers for this. I'm not even sure who to blame for the lack of parent education provided before and during their child's time in special education. We all know teachers are overworked and hardly have time to eat their lunch, let alone spend 1:1 time with parent to prepare them for the next 1-18 years of their child's life. There should be more supports and systems in place to make sure parents are receiving this information in an accessible and comprehensible way. Procedural safeguards are great and all, and given to parents at least once a year (often more frequently), but that doesn't mean they are accessible or easily understood by parents-- the document's intended audience.

The IEP Process

So let's dive in. My hope is by the end of this article, you will understand what to expect from the IEP process and be able to reference back whenever you are unsure or cannot remember what comes next.

First, let's look at the timeline. The special education timeline can look different for any child, but here is the general guidance.

The process will initially begin with a request of referral for special education, parents will then be required to sign a consent form before evaluation can begin. The team will then hold an evaluation meeting and determine the student's eligibility for special education. The student may be determined as ineligible. If the student is eligible for special education, an IEP meeting will be held, services will be provided, and the IEP will be reviewed annually. Eligible students must be re-evaluated every three years.

The IEP Timeline

1. Request or referral for evaluation

2. Consent for evaluation

3. Initial evaluation

4. Evaluation meeting and eligibility determination

5. IEP Meeting

6. After the IEP Meeting

Let us know what questions you have about the IEP process or what other topics I can break down for you.