IEP Evaluation Process in Colorado
How long does Colorado have to complete an IEP evaluation?
Colorado's evaluation procedures are governed by 1 CCR 301-8 (ECEA Rules), §4.02, which implements the IDEA evaluation requirements at 34 CFR §§300.300–300.311. The key Colorado-specific timeline is that the initial evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days of parental consent for evaluation — specifically, within 60 calendar days of AU initiation of the special education referral when parental consent is received (ECEA Rules §4.02(3)(c)). The initial IEP must be developed within 90 calendar days of parental consent for initial evaluation (§4.03(1)(d)(i)), making the full evaluation-to-IEP process potentially up to 150 calendar days from consent. Colorado's evaluation must be conducted by a multidisciplinary team using a variety of assessment tools and strategies; no single measure may be the sole criterion. Reevaluations must occur at least every three years unless the parent and AU agree it is unnecessary. For SLD eligibility, Colorado uses a body-of-evidence/RTI model or a pattern of strengths and weaknesses — not solely a discrepancy model (ECEA Rules §2.09(8)). The CDE Exceptional Student Services Unit provides evaluation guidance through the Colorado Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework.
What Colorado Requires
The initial evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days of parental consent for evaluation (within 60 calendar days of AU initiation of the referral when parental consent is received) (1 CCR 301-8, §4.02(3)(c)).
The initial IEP must be developed within 90 calendar days of parental consent for initial evaluation (1 CCR 301-8, §4.03(1)(d)(i)).
Evaluation must be conducted by a multidisciplinary team using a variety of assessment tools and strategies; no single procedure may be used as the sole criterion for determining eligibility or educational programming (34 CFR 300.304(b)(1)).
Assessments must be provided and administered in the child's native language or mode of communication, unless clearly not feasible (34 CFR 300.304(c)(1)(ii)).
Reevaluations must occur at least every three years, unless the parent and AU agree that reevaluation is unnecessary; reevaluation may not occur more than once per year without parental consent (34 CFR 300.303).
The AU of attendance is responsible for conducting initial evaluations and reevaluations; for charter schools with applicable AU contracts, the charter school may conduct evaluations but the AU remains ultimately responsible (1 CCR 301-8, §8.04(1)(d)).
Key Timelines
Initial evaluation completed within 60 calendar days of parental consent for evaluation (i.e., from AU initiation of the special education referral when parental consent is received) (1 CCR 301-8, §4.02(3)(c)).
IEP meeting to determine eligibility: within 30 calendar days after completion of the evaluation (34 CFR 300.306(c)(1)(ii); 1 CCR 301-8, §4.02).
Initial IEP developed within 90 calendar days of parental consent for initial evaluation (1 CCR 301-8, §4.03(1)(d)(i)).
Reevaluation at least every three years unless parent and AU agree it is unnecessary (34 CFR 300.303(b)(2)).
Additional data review must be conducted prior to any reevaluation to determine whether additional assessments are needed (34 CFR 300.305).