IEP Evaluation Process in Washington
How long does Washington have to complete an IEP evaluation?
Washington's evaluation procedures are governed by WAC 392-172A-03005, 03015, 03020, and 03035. The most significant Washington-specific provision is the 35 school-day evaluation timeline: upon receiving written parental consent, the district must complete the evaluation within 35 school days (WAC 392-172A-03005). This is stricter than the federal 60-calendar-day standard. The district must make a referral decision (whether to evaluate) within 25 school days of receiving a referral request (WAC 392-172A-03005). Evaluations must be comprehensive and multifaceted, covering all areas related to the suspected disability: health, vision, hearing, social/emotional status, general intelligence, academic performance, communication, and motor abilities (WAC 392-172A-03020). Assessments must be linguistically appropriate, technically sound, non-discriminatory, and no single measure may be the sole eligibility criterion. The evaluation report must be written and provided to parents (WAC 392-172A-03035). The parent and district may mutually agree in writing to alternative timelines (WAC 392-172A-03005). Reevaluations must also be completed within 35 school days and occur at least every three years (WAC 392-172A-03015). Following the eligibility determination, the IEP must be in effect within 30 calendar days under WAC 392-172A-03100.
What Washington Requires
The district must complete the evaluation within 35 school days of receiving written parental consent — stricter than the federal 60-calendar-day standard (WAC 392-172A-03005).
The district must decide whether to evaluate within 25 school days of a referral request (WAC 392-172A-03005).
Evaluations must be comprehensive, covering all areas related to the suspected disability: health, vision, hearing, social/emotional status, intelligence, academic performance, communication, and motor abilities (WAC 392-172A-03020(2)).
Assessments must be linguistically appropriate, technically sound, non-discriminatory on racial/cultural grounds, and no single measure may be the sole eligibility criterion (WAC 392-172A-03020).
A written evaluation report must be prepared and provided to parents (WAC 392-172A-03035).
The parent and district may mutually agree in writing to alternative evaluation completion dates (WAC 392-172A-03005).
Key Timelines
Referral decision (whether to evaluate): within 25 school days of receiving the referral (WAC 392-172A-03005).
Initial evaluation completion: within 35 school days of written parental consent (WAC 392-172A-03005).
Reevaluation: within 35 school days of parental consent; at least every 3 years; no more than once per year unless agreed (WAC 392-172A-03015).
IEP in effect: within 30 calendar days of the eligibility determination (WAC 392-172A-03100).
The 35-day timeline does not apply when parents repeatedly fail or refuse to produce the student for evaluation (WAC 392-172A-03005).
Parent and district may agree in writing to an alternative timeline (WAC 392-172A-03005).