Indiana Special Education Requirements
What special education requirements does Indiana have beyond federal law?
Indiana has several notable requirements that distinguish it from the federal IDEA baseline and from other states. The most significant Indiana-specific provisions are: (1) Transition IEP (TIEP) required when a student enters 9th grade or turns 14 — two years earlier than the federal minimum of age 16 (511 IAC 7-43-4); (2) a 50-calendar-day evaluation timeline from consent to CCC eligibility determination, stricter than the federal 60-calendar-day default (511 IAC 7-40-4(a)); (3) Case Conference Committee (CCC) — Indiana's statutory term for the IEP team at all stages, including referral, evaluation, eligibility, IEP development, and annual review (511 IAC 7-42-3); (4) Indiana prohibits the severe discrepancy model for SLD — RTI (TISS) or pattern of strengths and weaknesses only (511 IAC 7-41-12); (5) Indiana's 40-calendar-day state complaint resolution timeline is shorter than the federal 60-day standard (511 IAC 7-45-1); (6) unique disability category terminology — Indiana uses 'Cognitive Disability,' 'Emotional Disability,' 'Blind or Low Vision,' and 'Language or Speech Impairment' (511 IAC 7-41); (7) prone restraint is prohibited; parents must be notified same day of any restraint or seclusion incident; electronic recording cameras required in special education classrooms and seclusion areas by January 1, 2025 (IC 20-20-40); (8) one-party consent for recording CCC meetings under IC 35-33.5-5-5; (9) Indiana uses 'Consent to Initial Provision of Services' — a distinct form required before services begin; (10) as of July 1, 2025, IDEA due process hearings are conducted by OALP independent ALJs (IC 20-35-14).
What Indiana Requires
Transition IEP (TIEP) begins at 9th grade entry or age 14, whichever is first — two years earlier than the federal minimum of age 16 (511 IAC 7-43-4).
50-calendar-day evaluation timeline from parental consent to CCC eligibility determination — stricter than the federal 60-calendar-day standard (511 IAC 7-40-4(a)).
Indiana uses 'Case Conference Committee (CCC)' — not 'IEP team' — as the statutory term for the decision-making body at all stages of special education (511 IAC 7-42-3).
Indiana prohibits the severe discrepancy model for SLD; RTI (TISS) or pattern of strengths/weaknesses must be used (511 IAC 7-41-12).
State complaint investigation reports must be issued within 40 calendar days — shorter than the 60-day federal standard (511 IAC 7-45-1).
Prone restraint is prohibited; parents must be notified same day of any restraint or seclusion incident; electronic recording required in special education spaces by January 1, 2025 (IC 20-20-40).
Indiana is a one-party consent state for recording under IC 35-33.5-5-5 — parents may record CCC meetings without notifying school staff.
IDEA due process hearings transferred to OALP independent ALJs effective July 1, 2025 (IC 20-35-14).
Key Timelines
50 calendar days: initial evaluation to CCC eligibility determination (511 IAC 7-40-4(a)) — stricter than federal 60-day standard.
40 calendar days: state complaint report (511 IAC 7-45-1).
Transition IEP required at 9th grade entry or age 14, whichever is first (511 IAC 7-43-4).
60 instructional days: minimum CCC meeting frequency for homebound/out-of-school placements (511 IAC 7-42-5).
Rights transfer to student at age 18; notification required in TIEP beginning one year before (511 IAC 7-43-5).
FAPE through the school year in which the student turns 22 (IC 20-35-1-7; 511 IAC 7-42-10).