IEP Timelines in Arkansas
What are the IEP timelines in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a distinctive set of evaluation and IEP procedural timelines that differ from federal IDEA defaults and from many other states. All key timelines are measured in calendar days in Arkansas. The full sequence from referral to services: (1) Referral conference within 21 calendar days of receiving the referral; (2) Evaluation completed within 60 calendar days of written parental consent (calendar days, not school days — stricter than states using school days); (3) Evaluation/Programming Conference (EPC) within 30 calendar days of completing the evaluation; (4) IEP services begin within 30 calendar days of the IEP meeting. Annual IEP review is required at least once per year; reevaluation at least every three years. Transition planning begins at age 16. Age of majority rights transfer at 18. State complaints resolved within 60 calendar days. Due process decisions issued within 45 days of the resolution period. Physical restraint parent notification by end of school day.
What Arkansas Requires
Referral conference: within 21 calendar days of referral receipt (Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.10-001, §4.03).
Initial evaluation: within 60 calendar days of written parental consent — calendar days, not school days (§6.03.1.1).
Evaluation/Programming Conference (EPC): within 30 calendar days of completing the evaluation (§8.04.2.1.B).
IEP services begin: within 30 calendar days of the IEP meeting, unless IEP specifies otherwise (§8.03.2.1).
Annual IEP review: at minimum once per year (34 CFR 300.324(b)).
Reevaluation: at least every three years; no more than once per year unless parent and LEA agree (34 CFR 300.303).
Transition planning: begins at age 16 (or younger if appropriate) (§8.08.2.1).
Age of majority: rights transfer at age 18; notice required beginning one year prior (§9.07.1.1).
State complaint resolution: 60 calendar days from DESE receipt (34 CFR 300.152(a)(1)).
Due process hearing decision: 45 days after the resolution period expires (34 CFR 300.515(a)).
Physical restraint parent notification: verbal or electronic by end of school day; written within 48 hours if unable to reach (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-2407).
Debriefing Report to parent: within 2 days of debriefing meeting (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-2407).
Key Timelines
Referral conference: 21 calendar days from referral (Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.10-001, §4.03).
Evaluation: 60 calendar days from written parental consent (§6.03.1.1).
EPC: 30 calendar days from completing evaluation (§8.04.2.1.B).
IEP services begin: 30 calendar days from IEP meeting (§8.03.2.1).
Annual IEP review: at least annually (34 CFR 300.324(b)).
Reevaluation: at least every 3 years (34 CFR 300.303).
Transition: begins age 16 (§8.08.2.1).
Age of majority: age 18 (§9.07.1.1).
State complaint: resolved within 60 calendar days (34 CFR 300.152).
Due process: decision within 45 days of resolution period (34 CFR 300.515).
Restraint notification: verbal by end of school day; written within 48 hours if needed (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-2407).
Restraint debriefing report to parent: within 2 days of debriefing (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-2407).