IEP Timelines in Maine
What are the IEP timelines in Maine?
Maine has a comprehensive set of timelines governing every stage of the special education process. Key Maine-specific timelines: (1) Evaluation — 60 calendar days from parental consent (not school days), a critical Maine distinction (MUSER Ch. 101 § VII(2)(a)); (2) Transition planning — begins at age 14, updated annually (20-A M.R.S. § 7207-B); (3) Restraint/seclusion parent notification — same day of incident, written follow-up within 3 school days (20-A M.R.S. § 4502-A(5)); (4) State complaint investigation — 60 calendar days (34 CFR 300.152(a)); (5) Due process resolution period — 30 days; hearing decision within 45 days after resolution period expires (34 CFR 300.510, 300.515); (6) Manifestation determination review — within 10 school days of disciplinary change-of-placement decision (34 CFR 300.530(e)); (7) Annual IEP review (MUSER Ch. 101 § VIII(5)); (8) Triennial reevaluation (MUSER Ch. 101 § VII(3)(a)); (9) FAPE eligibility ends age 20 end-of-school-year (20-A M.R.S. § 7203); (10) Rights transfer notice at age 17 for age 18 rights transfer (MUSER Ch. 101 § X(9)).
What Maine Requires
Maine uses CALENDAR days for the evaluation timeline (60 days from parental consent) — a critical distinction from states using school days (MUSER Ch. 101 § VII(2)(a)).
Transition planning begins at age 14 in Maine, two years earlier than the federal minimum of age 16 (20-A M.R.S. § 7207-B; MUSER Ch. 101 § VIII(7)(a)).
Restraint/seclusion parent notification is required the same day as the incident, with written follow-up within 3 school days (20-A M.R.S. § 4502-A(5)).
FAPE eligibility in Maine ends at the conclusion of the school year in which the student turns 20 — one year earlier than many states (20-A M.R.S. § 7203).
Age 17: IEP must document rights transfer notice for age 18 (MUSER Ch. 101 § X(9)).
Key Timelines
60 calendar days (from parental consent): evaluation timeline (MUSER Ch. 101 § VII(2)(a)).
30 days (from eligibility): initial IEP must be developed (34 CFR 300.323(c)).
Annual: IEP review (MUSER Ch. 101 § VIII(5)).
3 years: triennial reevaluation (MUSER Ch. 101 § VII(3)(a)).
Age 14: transition planning begins, annually updated (20-A M.R.S. § 7207-B).
Age 17: IEP documents rights transfer notice for age 18 (MUSER Ch. 101 § X(9)).
Age 18: all educational rights transfer to student (20-A M.R.S. § 7207).
Age 20 (end of school year): FAPE eligibility ends (20-A M.R.S. § 7203).
Same day: parent notification after restraint/seclusion (20-A M.R.S. § 4502-A(5)).
3 school days: written notification to parents after restraint/seclusion (20-A M.R.S. § 4502-A(5)).
10 school days: manifestation determination review after disciplinary change-of-placement (34 CFR 300.530(e)).
45 school days: IAES for weapons/drugs/serious bodily injury (34 CFR 300.530(g)).
30 days: resolution period before due process hearing proceeds (34 CFR 300.510).
45 days (after 30-day resolution period): final due process hearing decision (34 CFR 300.515(a)).
10 school days: expedited hearing decision (34 CFR 300.532(c)(2)).
90 days: court appeal of due process decision (34 CFR 300.516(b)).
60 calendar days: state complaint investigation decision (34 CFR 300.152(a)).