IEP Timelines and Deadlines in Georgia

Understanding IEP timeline deadlines in Georgia is one of the most powerful tools a parent can have. When you know exactly what is supposed to happen — and when — you can be a calm, confident partner at every IEP meeting and catch delays before they cost your child precious learning time.

This guide walks through every major milestone in Georgia's special education process, from the moment you first request an evaluation through annual reviews and re-evaluations. All timelines below are grounded in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Georgia's own state rules.

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Step 1 — Requesting an Initial Evaluation

The process starts the moment you or the school submits a written request for a special education evaluation. Either party can initiate it.

Your right: Under federal law, any parent who suspects their child has a disability may request an initial evaluation at any time (20 U.S.C. § 1414(a)(1); 34 C.F.R. § 300.301).

What to do:

• Put your request in writing and date it. A dated letter or email creates a clear paper trail.
• Deliver it to the school principal, the special education coordinator, or both.
• Keep a copy for your records.

The district must respond to your request. They cannot simply ignore it. If they agree to evaluate, the clock starts. If they decline to evaluate, they must give you a Prior Written Notice (PWN) — a formal written explanation of their decision (20 U.S.C. § 1415(b)(3), (c)(1); 34 C.F.R. § 300.503). The PWN must explain why the district is refusing and describe the information they used to make that call.

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Step 2 — The 60-Calendar-Day Evaluation Deadline (Georgia's Key Deadline)

This is the most important number to remember: 60 calendar days.

Once the district has your signed consent to evaluate, Georgia state rules require the initial evaluation to be completed within 60 calendar days (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 160-4-7-.04). That means all assessments finished, all reports written, and an IEP Team meeting scheduled — all within that 60-day window.

Key points about this deadline:

• The clock starts the day the district receives your signed consent, not the day you made the request.
• "Calendar days" means every day counts — weekends, holidays, and school breaks are included.
• Georgia does not routinely pause the clock for school breaks, so starting near a long holiday could shorten your window. Watch the calendar.
• If the district believes it needs more time, it must explain that to you in writing. You are not required to agree to an extension.

Why this matters: Delays in evaluation are delays in services. A child who needs support cannot receive special education until they have an IEP — and they cannot have an IEP until the evaluation is done.

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Step 3 — The IEP Meeting After Evaluation

Once the evaluation is complete, the IEP Team — which always includes you as a full member — must meet to:

1. Review the evaluation results together.
2. Determine whether your child is eligible for special education.
3. If eligible, develop the IEP on the spot (or in a follow-up meeting scheduled very shortly after).

Georgia's rules tie this meeting to the 60-day evaluation window, so in practice the IEP Team meeting should occur within that same 60 calendar days or immediately after.

If your child is found eligible, services described in the IEP must begin as soon as possible after the IEP is signed. There should be no unnecessary gap between eligibility determination and the first day of services.

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Step 4 — Annual IEP Reviews

Every IEP must be reviewed — and updated if needed — at least once every 12 months. This is called the annual review.

Things to keep in mind:

• The 12-month anniversary of the IEP's adoption date is the hard deadline, but you can request a review meeting at any time if your child's needs change.
• The goal of an annual review is not just to renew the old IEP — it is to ask honestly whether goals were met, whether services are still appropriate, and whether new goals are needed.
• You must receive written notice of the meeting far enough in advance to attend. If the date does not work for you, ask to reschedule.
• You may also request that additional team members attend (such as a specialist or therapist) before the meeting.

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Step 5 — Re-Evaluation (Every Three Years)

In addition to annual reviews, your child must be re-evaluated at least once every three years — often called a "triennial" or "three-year re-evaluation." This ensures the IEP is still based on current data.

• The same 60-calendar-day window (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 160-4-7-.04) applies once consent is obtained.
• You may request a re-evaluation sooner if you believe your child's needs have significantly changed. The district cannot refuse more than once per year without good cause.
• The district may also propose a re-evaluation on their own. You have the right to consent or decline.

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Your Rights When Deadlines Are Missed

If the district misses the 60-day deadline or fails to hold an annual review on time, you have several options — all of them collaborative first steps:

• Contact the special education coordinator in writing, noting the specific deadline that was missed and asking for an immediate update.
• Request a PWN if the district declines to act. They must explain their reasoning in writing (34 C.F.R. § 300.503).
• File a state complaint with the Georgia Department of Education's Special Education Division. This is a free process and does not require an attorney.
• Request mediation, a voluntary process where a neutral third party helps both sides reach an agreement.

If the situation escalates — especially if you believe your child is being denied a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) (20 U.S.C. § 1401(9); 34 C.F.R. § 300.17) — consider consulting a qualified special education attorney or advocate. Due process hearings have their own strict timelines and procedural rules that are best navigated with professional support.

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A Quick-Reference Timeline Checklists

Milestone	Deadline
District responds to evaluation request	Promptly; must provide PWN if refusing
Initial evaluation completed (from signed consent)	60 calendar days (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 160-4-7-.04)
IEP Team meeting after evaluation	Within / at end of the 60-day window
Services begin after IEP is signed	As soon as possible — no unnecessary gap
Annual IEP review	At least every 12 months
Re-evaluation (triennial)	At least every 3 years

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Keeping Your Own Records

Dates matter enormously in special education. Build a simple folder — digital or paper — and save:

• Every written request you submit, with the date sent.
• Every piece of correspondence from the school, with the date received.
• All signed consent forms.
• All IEP documents and evaluation reports.

When you track these dates yourself, you are never dependent on the school's memory. You become the most informed person in the room — and that is exactly where you want to be.