IEP Timelines in Maryland
What are the IEP timelines in Maryland?
Maryland has a comprehensive set of timelines governing every stage of the special education process, codified primarily in COMAR 13A.05.01 and supplemented by Md. Code Ann., Education Article. Key timelines include: (1) Initial evaluation completed within 60 calendar days of written parental consent (COMAR 13A.05.01.06(A); 34 CFR 300.301(c)); (2) IEP developed within 30 calendar days of eligibility determination (COMAR 13A.05.01.08(A)); (3) Evaluation report and draft IEP provided to parents at least 5 business days before the eligibility or IEP meeting (COMAR 13A.05.01.07(D)); (4) Annual IEP review with ESY considered as a standing agenda item (COMAR 13A.05.01.08(B), (B)(2)); (5) Triennial reevaluation within 3 years (COMAR 13A.05.01.06(E)); (6) Due process complaint filed within 2 years of when party knew or should have known (COMAR 13A.05.01.15(C); 34 CFR 300.507(a)(2)); (7) Resolution meeting within 15 calendar days of due process filing (COMAR 13A.05.01.15(C); 34 CFR 300.510(a)); (8) Resolution period of 30 calendar days (34 CFR 300.510(b)); (9) Hearing decision within 45 calendar days after resolution period (34 CFR 300.515(a)); (10) State complaint decision within 60 calendar days (COMAR 13A.05.01.15(A); 34 CFR 300.152(a)); (11) Restraint notification to parents within 24 hours (COMAR 13A.08.04; Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 7-1104); (12) IEP team review within 10 business days of unplanned restraint incident (COMAR 13A.08.04); (13) Rights transfer to student at age 18, with notification at least 1 year prior (Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 8-412.1; 34 CFR 300.320(c)); (14) FAPE through age 21 (Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 8-403); (15) Transition planning begins at age 14 (COMAR 13A.05.01.09(A)(3)); (16) Transfer students from within Maryland must receive comparable services immediately, with a new IEP within 30 calendar days (COMAR 13A.05.01.09(E)); (17) Appeals of due process hearing decisions filed within 120 days in state circuit court or federal court (Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 8-413(j)); (18) Manifestation determination within 10 school days of a disciplinary change of placement decision (34 CFR 300.530(e)).
What Maryland Requires
60 calendar days: initial evaluation from written parental consent (COMAR 13A.05.01.06(A); 34 CFR 300.301(c)).
30 calendar days: IEP development after eligibility determination (COMAR 13A.05.01.08(A)).
5 business days before eligibility/IEP meeting: evaluation report and draft IEP must be provided to parents (COMAR 13A.05.01.07(D)).
3 years: triennial reevaluation deadline (COMAR 13A.05.01.06(E)).
2-year statute of limitations for due process complaints (COMAR 13A.05.01.15(C); 34 CFR 300.507(a)(2)).
24-hour parent notification after restraint incident (COMAR 13A.08.04; Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 7-1104).
120-day appeal period for due process hearing decisions (Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 8-413(j)).
Age 14: transition planning begins; Age 18: rights transfer; Age 21: FAPE ends (COMAR 13A.05.01.09(A)(3); Md. Code Ann., Ed. §§ 8-412.1, 8-403).
Key Timelines
60 calendar days from written parental consent: initial evaluation complete (COMAR 13A.05.01.06(A)).
5 business days before eligibility/IEP meeting: evaluation report and draft IEP to parents (COMAR 13A.05.01.07(D)).
30 calendar days after eligibility: IEP developed (COMAR 13A.05.01.08(A)).
Annual: IEP review with ESY as standing agenda item (COMAR 13A.05.01.08(B), (B)(2)).
3 years: reevaluation (COMAR 13A.05.01.06(E)).
15 calendar days: resolution meeting after due process filing (COMAR 13A.05.01.15(C); 34 CFR 300.510(a)).
30 calendar days: resolution period (34 CFR 300.510(b)).
45 calendar days: hearing decision after resolution period (34 CFR 300.515(a)).
60 calendar days: state complaint decision (COMAR 13A.05.01.15(A)).
24 hours: parent notification after restraint incident (COMAR 13A.08.04; Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 7-1104).
10 business days: IEP team review after unplanned restraint (COMAR 13A.08.04).
10 school days: manifestation determination after disciplinary change of placement (34 CFR 300.530(e)).
Age 14: transition planning begins (COMAR 13A.05.01.09(A)(3)).
Age 17: rights transfer notification (at least 1 year before age 18) (34 CFR 300.320(c)).
Age 18: rights transfer to student (Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 8-412.1).
Age 21: FAPE eligibility ends (Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 8-403).
30 calendar days: new IEP for transfer students (COMAR 13A.05.01.09(E)).
120 days: appeal of due process decision (Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 8-413(j)).
Sources
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