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: Initial evaluation completed within 60 calendar days of written parental consent (COMAR 13A.05.01.06A; consistent with 34 CFR 300.301(c)); IEP developed within 30 calendar days of evaluation (COMAR 13A.05.01.08A); evaluation report and draft IEP to parents at least 5 business days before eligibility meeting (COMAR 13A.05.01.07D); annual IEP review (COMAR 13A.05.01.08B); triennial reevaluation within 3 years (COMAR 13A.05.01.06E); due process complaint filed within 2 years of when party knew or should have known (COMAR 13A.05.01.15C; 34 CFR 300.507); resolution meeting within 15 calendar days of due process filing (34 CFR 300.510(a)); resolution period 30 calendar days (34 CFR 300.510(b)); hearing decision within 45 calendar days after resolution period (34 CFR 300.515(a)); state complaint decision within 60 calendar days (COMAR 13A.05.01.15A); restraint notification within 24 hours (COMAR 13A.08.04); IEP team review within 10 business days of unplanned restraint incident; rights transfer to student at age 18 (34 CFR 300.520); FAPE through age 21 (Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 8-403); transition planning begins at age 14 (COMAR 13A.05.01.09A(3)). Transfer students from within Maryland must receive comparable services immediately, with a new IEP within 30 days (COMAR 13A.05.01.09E).
What Maryland Requires
60 calendar days: initial evaluation from written parental consent (COMAR 13A.05.01.06A; 34 CFR 300.301(c)).
30 calendar days: IEP development after evaluation (COMAR 13A.05.01.08A).
5 business days before eligibility meeting: evaluation report and draft IEP must be provided to parents (COMAR 13A.05.01.07D).
3 years: triennial reevaluation deadline (COMAR 13A.05.01.06E).
2-year statute of limitations for due process complaints (COMAR 13A.05.01.15C; 34 CFR 300.507(a)(2)).
24-hour parent notification after restraint incident (COMAR 13A.08.04).
Age 14: transition planning begins; age 21: FAPE eligibility ends (COMAR 13A.05.01.09A(3); Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 8-403).
Key Timelines
60 calendar days from written parental consent: initial evaluation complete (COMAR 13A.05.01.06A).
5 business days before eligibility meeting: evaluation report and draft IEP to parents (COMAR 13A.05.01.07D).
30 calendar days after evaluation: IEP developed (COMAR 13A.05.01.08A).
Annual: IEP review (COMAR 13A.05.01.08B).
3 years: reevaluation (COMAR 13A.05.01.06E).
15 calendar days: resolution meeting after due process filing (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.05.01.15A).
24 hours: parent notification after restraint incident (COMAR 13A.08.04).
Age 14: transition planning begins (COMAR 13A.05.01.09A(3)).
Age 18: rights transfer to student (34 CFR 300.520).
Age 21: FAPE eligibility ends (Md. Code Ann., Ed. § 8-403).
30 calendar days: new IEP for transfer students (COMAR 13A.05.01.09E).