IEP Timelines in Alabama
What are the IEP timelines in Alabama?
Alabama has several state-specific timeline requirements that either exceed or clarify federal IDEA timelines. The most critical Alabama-specific timelines: (1) Initial evaluation: 60 calendar days from parental consent — runs regardless of school interruptions or summer vacation. (2) Eligibility determination: 30 calendar days after evaluation completion. (3) BBSST pre-referral: minimum 8 weeks of intervention before referral (with exceptions). (4) IEP development: 30 calendar days after eligibility determination. (5) IEP meeting on request: 30 calendar days. (6) State complaint: 60 calendar days to resolve. (7) Due process: 15-day resolution meeting + 30-day resolution period + 45-day decision window. (8) Physical restraint parent notification: within 1 school day. (9) Age of majority notice: beginning no later than 1 year before student turns 19. (10) Records inspection: within 45 days of request. (11) Surrogate parent assignment: within 30 days. (12) Developmental Delay reevaluation: before age 9. (13) Transition planning begins at age 16 (or younger if the IEP team determines appropriate).
What Alabama Requires
Initial evaluation: 60 calendar days from parental consent, regardless of summer or school interruptions (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.02).
Eligibility determination: 30 calendar days after evaluation completion (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.04).
BBSST pre-referral intervention: minimum 8 weeks before formal referral (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.01).
IEP development after eligibility: 30 calendar days (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.05).
IEP meeting upon request: within 30 calendar days of receipt of request (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.05).
State complaint resolution: 60 calendar days from receipt (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.08).
Due process timeline: resolution meeting within 15 days + 30-day resolution period + 45-day decision window (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.08).
Physical restraint parent notification: within one school day of the incident (Ala. Code § 16-28B).
Age of majority notice: beginning no later than one year before student turns 19 (Ala. Code § 26-1-1; Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.08).
Records inspection: within 45 days of parental request (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.08).
Surrogate parent assignment: within 30 days of determination that one is needed (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.08).
Developmental Delay reevaluation: must occur before child's 9th birthday (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.03).
Transition planning: begins at age 16, or younger if the IEP team determines appropriate (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.05).
Key Timelines
60 calendar days: complete initial evaluation from parental consent (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.02).
30 calendar days: determine eligibility after evaluation completion (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.04).
8 weeks minimum: BBSST pre-referral intervention (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.01).
30 calendar days: develop IEP after eligibility determination (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.05).
30 calendar days: hold IEP meeting upon parental request (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.05).
60 calendar days: resolve state complaint from receipt (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.08).
15 school days: convene resolution meeting after due process request (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.08).
30 calendar days: resolution period after due process request (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.08).
45 calendar days: hearing officer decision after resolution period expires (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.08).
1 school day: written parental notice of physical restraint (Ala. Code § 16-28B).
45 days: records inspection from parental request (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.08).
30 days: surrogate parent assignment (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.08).
3 years: maximum reevaluation cycle (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.02).