IEP Timelines in Washington D.C.
What are the IEP timelines in Washington D.C.?
Washington D.C. has several statutory timelines that exceed or differ from federal IDEA defaults. The most significant DC-specific timelines, established by DC Official Code § 38-2561.02 and § 38-2571.03, include: (1) initial evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days of signed consent (changed from 120 days effective July 1, 2018); (2) the LEA must seek parental consent within 30 calendar days of referral; (3) oral referrals must be documented in writing within 3 business days; (4) evaluation reports must be provided to parents at least 5 business days before IEP/eligibility meetings; (5) draft IEPs must be delivered within 5 business days of the meeting; and (6) final IEPs requiring language access must be delivered within 15 business days. State complaint investigation is 60 days. Due process hearings must be completed within 45 days after the resolution period ends. The Ombudsman's annual report is due within 120 days of the end of each school year.
What Washington D.C. Requires
Initial evaluation: within 60 calendar days of signed parental consent (DC Official Code § 38-2561.02, effective July 1, 2018).
Consent request: LEA must make reasonable efforts to obtain consent within 30 calendar days of referral (DC Official Code § 38-2561.02).
Oral referral documentation: within 3 business days (DC Official Code § 38-2561.02).
Evaluation documents to parent before meeting: at least 5 business days; or 24 hours if meeting is scheduled with shorter notice (DC Official Code § 38-2571.03).
Draft IEP to parent: no later than 5 business days after the IEP meeting (DC Official Code § 38-2571.03).
Final IEP if language access needed: within 15 business days of meeting (DC Official Code § 38-2571.03).
State complaint: 60 calendar days from OSSE receipt to written decision (34 CFR 300.152).
Due process resolution session: within 15 days of LEA receiving complaint; 30-day resolution period (34 CFR 300.510).
Due process hearing decision: within 45 days after resolution period ends (34 CFR 300.515).
Age-of-majority notice: at least 1 year before student turns 18 (DC Official Code § 38-2571.04).
Ombudsman annual report: within 120 days after end of each school year (DC Official Code § 38-353).
Key Timelines
Referral to consent request: 30 calendar days (DC Official Code § 38-2561.02).
Consent to evaluation completion: 60 calendar days (DC Official Code § 38-2561.02).
Evaluation documents before meeting: 5 business days (DC Official Code § 38-2571.03).
Draft IEP to parent: 5 business days after meeting (DC Official Code § 38-2571.03).
Final IEP with language access: 15 business days after meeting (DC Official Code § 38-2571.03).
State complaint decision: 60 days (34 CFR 300.152).
Due process resolution session: 15 days after receipt of complaint (34 CFR 300.510(a)).
Due process hearing decision: 45 days after resolution period ends (34 CFR 300.515(a)).