IEP Eligibility in Michigan: Who Qualifies?
What qualifies a child for an IEP in Michigan?
Michigan's eligibility criteria for special education are defined in MARSE R 340.1705 through R 340.1717, with evaluation procedures governed by R 340.1721b. A student must meet two conditions: (1) have a disability under one of the 13 MARSE categories AND (2) the disability must adversely affect educational performance, requiring special education and related services. The Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET, R 340.1701b) — a minimum of 2 persons including a specialist with knowledge of the suspected disability — conducts the evaluation and writes the MET report. The MET report presents findings and an eligibility recommendation to the IEPT. The IEPT makes the final eligibility determination. Within 10 school days of receiving a written evaluation request, the district must provide written notice to the parent and request written consent to evaluate. Once consent is received, the MET must complete the evaluation and the IEPT must meet within 30 school days — a stricter timeline than the federal 60-calendar-day default. Eligibility must be based on the full MET report data, not on any single test score or criterion. Michigan uses a 'two-prong test': disability presence + adverse educational effect. A student may have a disability (e.g., ADHD, mild hearing loss) but not qualify if it does not adversely affect educational performance requiring special education. Students who do not qualify under MARSE/IDEA may still be entitled to a Section 504 plan. Michigan's SLD identification permits both the RTI/MTSS model and the Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses (PSW) model (R 340.1713; MDE guidance).
What Michigan Requires
A student must have a disability under one of 13 MARSE categories (R 340.1705–1717) AND the disability must adversely affect educational performance requiring special education and related services (R 340.1701b).
Within 10 school days of a written evaluation request, the district must provide written notice and request parental consent — the 10-day notice timeline is Michigan-specific (R 340.1721b).
The MET (minimum 2 persons including a specialist) conducts the evaluation; the MET report is presented to the IEPT which makes the final eligibility determination (R 340.1701b; R 340.1721c).
Eligibility must be based on comprehensive, multifactorial evaluation data — the MET report cannot rely on a single test or criterion (34 CFR 300.304(b); R 340.1721b).
For SLD, Michigan permits both RTI/MTSS and Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses (PSW) identification methods — districts may not require a specific approach (R 340.1713; MDE SLD guidance).
Students who do not qualify under MARSE may still be eligible for Section 504 plans — referral to the 504 coordinator is appropriate when IDEA eligibility is not established.
Key Timelines
Within 10 school days of a written evaluation request, the district must provide written notice and request consent (R 340.1721b).
Within 30 school days of parental consent, the MET evaluation must be completed and the IEPT must meet to determine eligibility and develop the IEP (R 340.1721b(1)) — stricter than federal 60-calendar-day default.
The 30-school-day timeline may be extended by mutual written agreement between parent and district (R 340.1721b).
Reevaluation must occur at least every 3 years unless parent and district agree it is unnecessary (34 CFR 300.303(b)).