IEP Timelines in Hawaii
What are the IEP timelines in Hawaii?
Hawaii has a comprehensive set of timelines governing every stage of the special education process. The most critical Hawaii-specific timeline is the 60 calendar day initial evaluation timeline (not school days), which means the clock runs continuously including during school breaks (HAR § 8-56-16). Key timelines include: 60 calendar days from written consent for initial evaluation; 30 calendar days to develop the initial IEP after eligibility determination; annual IEP review; triennial reevaluation; prior written notice before proposed actions; 15 days for resolution meeting after due process complaint; 30-day resolution period; 45 days after resolution period for final hearing decision; end-of-school-day parent notification after restraint/seclusion; one school day for incident report after restraint/seclusion; three-incident trigger for behavior support plan review; 90 days before third birthday for early intervention transition conference; age 16 for transition services in IEP; age 18 for rights transfer; and age 20 for FAPE eligibility end.
What Hawaii Requires
Hawaii's 60 calendar day evaluation timeline runs continuously from written consent — including during school breaks — making it potentially shorter in practice than states using school days (HAR § 8-56-16).
FAPE ends at age 20 in Hawaii (through the end of the school year the student turns 20), not age 21 as in most states (HRS § 302H-1).
The all-party recording consent law (HRS § 803-42) creates an immediate compliance obligation whenever a parent seeks to record an IEP meeting — consent from all participants must be obtained before recording begins.
Restraint/seclusion incident reporting has both a same-day parent notification requirement and a one-school-day written report requirement (HAR § 8-19-9).
Because HIDOE is simultaneously the SEA and sole LEA, all timelines are administered and enforced by the same entity — HIDOE OSE monitors compliance with its own schools (HRS § 302A-101).
Key Timelines
60 calendar days: initial evaluation completion from written parental consent (HAR § 8-56-16).
30 calendar days: initial IEP development after eligibility determination (HAR § 8-56-28(a); 34 CFR 300.323(c)).
Annual: IEP review (HAR § 8-56-32).
3 years: triennial reevaluation (HAR § 8-56-20; 34 CFR 300.303).
60 calendar days: state complaint investigation decision (34 CFR 300.152(a)).
1 year: deadline to file state complaint (34 CFR 300.153(c)).
15 school days: resolution meeting after due process complaint (HAR § 8-56-53; 34 CFR 300.510(a)).
30 days: resolution period before hearing may proceed (34 CFR 300.510(b)).
45 days after resolution period: final due process hearing decision (HAR § 8-56-54; 34 CFR 300.515(a)).
10 school days: MDR after disciplinary change of placement (HAR § 8-56-47; 34 CFR 300.530(e)).
End of school day: parent notification after restraint/seclusion (HAR § 8-19-9).
1 school day: incident report after restraint/seclusion (HAR § 8-19-9).
3 incidents in school year: mandatory behavior support plan review (HAR § 8-19-10).
90 days before 3rd birthday: early intervention transition conference (HAR § 8-56-53; 34 CFR 300.124).
Age 16: transition services in IEP begin (HAR § 8-56-28(b)(8); 34 CFR 300.320(b)).
Age 18: rights transfer to student (HAR § 8-56-28(b)(9); 34 CFR 300.520).
Age 20: FAPE eligibility ends in Hawaii (HRS § 302H-1).
90 days: deadline to appeal hearing decision to court (HAR § 8-56-57; 34 CFR 300.516(b)).