IEP Timelines in Arizona
What are the IEP timelines in Arizona?
Arizona's special education process is governed by a set of statutory and regulatory timelines. The most significant is the 60-calendar-day evaluation timeline under A.R.S. § 15-766(B) and A.A.C. R7-2-401(C)(1) — from receipt of parental written consent to completion of the evaluation and eligibility determination. FAPE must be available to eligible children ages 3 through the end of the school year in which the student turns 22 (A.R.S. § 15-764(B)). Parental rights transfer automatically at the student's 18th birthday (A.R.S. § 15-773(A)). Transition planning begins no later than the IEP in effect at age 16 per the federal baseline (34 CFR 300.320(b)). IEPs must be reviewed and, if appropriate, revised at least annually (A.A.C. R7-2-401). Reevaluation occurs at least every three years unless waived by mutual agreement (A.R.S. § 15-766). Parent notification of restraint or seclusion incidents must occur on the same day or within 24 hours (A.R.S. § 15-105(D)). State complaints filed with ADE-ESS must be resolved within 60 calendar days (34 CFR 300.152; per federal baseline). Due process complaints have a two-year filing limitation, a 30-day resolution period, and a 45-day decision timeline after the resolution period (34 CFR 300.507; 300.510; 300.515). Following an eligibility determination, an IEP must be developed and services initiated within 30 days (34 CFR 300.323(c)(1); per federal baseline applied in AZ).
What Arizona Requires
Initial evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days of receiving parental written consent to evaluate (A.R.S. § 15-766(B); A.A.C. R7-2-401(C)(1)).
Following an eligibility determination, the IEP must be developed and services initiated within 30 days (34 CFR 300.323(c)(1); per federal baseline applied in AZ).
IEPs must be reviewed and, if appropriate, revised at least annually (A.A.C. R7-2-401; 34 CFR 300.324(b)).
Reevaluation must occur at least every three years unless waived by parent and district agreement (A.R.S. § 15-766; 34 CFR 300.303(b)(2)).
Parent notification of restraint or seclusion incidents must occur on the same day or within 24 hours (A.R.S. § 15-105(D)).
Parental rights transfer automatically at the student's 18th birthday (A.R.S. § 15-773(A)); the IEP must include notice at least one year before (34 CFR 300.320(c)).
Key Timelines
Evaluation: 60 calendar days from parental written consent (A.R.S. § 15-766(B); A.A.C. R7-2-401(C)(1)).
IEP development after eligibility: within 30 days of eligibility determination (34 CFR 300.323(c)(1); per federal baseline applied in AZ).
IEP annual review: at least once per year (A.A.C. R7-2-401).
Reevaluation: at least every 3 years (A.R.S. § 15-766).
Restraint/seclusion parent notice: same day or within 24 hours (A.R.S. § 15-105(D)).
Transition IEP: begins at age 16 (34 CFR 300.320(b); federal baseline applied in AZ).
Rights transfer: at age 18 (A.R.S. § 15-773(A)).
FAPE age range: 3 through end of school year when student turns 22 (A.R.S. § 15-764(B)).
State complaint resolution: 60 calendar days from filing (34 CFR 300.152; per federal baseline).
Due process filing limit: 2 years (34 CFR 300.507(a)(2); per federal baseline).
Due process decision: 45 days after resolution period ends (34 CFR 300.515(a); per federal baseline).