IEP Eligibility in Louisiana: Who Qualifies?
What qualifies a child for an IEP in Louisiana?
Louisiana eligibility for special education is governed by Bulletin 1508 (Pupil Appraisal Handbook), which provides specific criteria for each of the 13 IDEA exceptionality categories plus Developmental Delay and the Louisiana-recognized Severe Language Disorder. A student must be identified as having an exceptionality AND must need special education and related services as a result. Eligibility determinations must be based on comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluations using a variety of assessment tools; no single measure may be the sole criterion (Bulletin 1508, §302). The evaluation team — called the 'pupil appraisal team' in Louisiana — must include qualified personnel with expertise in the suspected area of exceptionality. Louisiana requires a 60-business-day timeline for initial evaluations from parental consent (Bulletin 1508, §511). For students aged 3 through 8, the Developmental Delay category may be used in lieu of specific disability categories (Bulletin 1508, §705). FAPE is available to students between ages 3 and 21 who meet eligibility criteria and reside in Louisiana (La. R.S. 17:1941; Bulletin 1706, §230). Gifted and talented students are separately identified under Bulletin 1706 Subpart 2 and Bulletin 1508.
What Louisiana Requires
A student must meet the criteria for at least one exceptionality AND need special education and related services as a result of that exceptionality (Bulletin 1508, §701; Bulletin 1706, §300).
Bulletin 1508, §701; Bulletin 1706, §300
Eligibility must be based on a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation using a variety of tools; no single measure may serve as the sole criterion (Bulletin 1508, §302).
Bulletin 1508, §302
The Louisiana 'pupil appraisal team' conducting evaluations must include personnel qualified in the area of the suspected exceptionality (Bulletin 1508, §302).
Bulletin 1508, §302
Developmental Delay may be used as a category for children under age 9 (through age 8) as an alternative to specific disability categories (Bulletin 1508, §705).
Bulletin 1508, §705
A student found eligible must have an IEP developed within 30 calendar days and services begin within 10 school days (Bulletin 1530, §105(A)).
Bulletin 1530, §105(A)
Key Timelines
Initial evaluation must be completed within 60 business days of parental consent (Bulletin 1508, §511; Bulletin 1706, §302(C)).
Summer interruption rule: if fewer than 60 business days remain in the school year when consent is obtained, the timeline pauses and resumes on September 1 (Bulletin 1508, §511).
Reevaluation must occur at least every three years (Bulletin 1508, §304(b)(2)).