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🗓️ Deadline calculator — enter your consent date & state →Reviewed by Dr. Elizabeth Long, Ph.D. — Director of Special Education, 32 years in public schools.
When you request a special education evaluation and give written consent, the school has a limited window to finish it. The federal default is 60 calendar days from when the school receives your consent (20 U.S.C. § 1414(a)(1)(C)) — but the law yields to any timeframe your state sets, so the real deadline varies quite a bit by state. The clock generally starts when the school receives your signed consent, and the unit of days (calendar, school, or business) changes what date you're counting to.
Find your state below for its specific rule and what to do if the deadline is missed.
| State | Timeline | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| Alaska | 90 calendar days | eval → services |
| Arizona | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| Arkansas | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| California | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility + IEP |
| Colorado | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| Connecticut | 45 school days (from referral) | eval → services |
| Delaware | 45 school days or 90 calendar days, whichever is less | eval + eligibility |
| Florida | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| Georgia | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| Hawaii | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| Idaho | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| Illinois | 60 school days | eval + eligibility + IEP |
| Indiana | 50 instructional days | eval + eligibility + IEP |
| Iowa | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| Kansas | 60 school days | eval → services |
| Kentucky | 60 school days | eval → services |
| Louisiana | 60 business days | evaluation |
| Maine | 45 school days | eval + eligibility |
| Maryland | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| Massachusetts | 45 school working days | eval + eligibility + IEP |
| Michigan | 30 school days | eval + eligibility + IEP |
| Minnesota | 30 school days | evaluation |
| Mississippi | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| Missouri | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| Montana | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| Nebraska | 45 school days | eval + eligibility |
| Nevada | 45 school days | evaluation |
| New Hampshire | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| New Jersey | 90 calendar days | eval → services |
| New Mexico | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| New York | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| North Carolina | 90 calendar days (from referral) | eval → services |
| North Dakota | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| Ohio | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| Oklahoma | 45 school days | eval + eligibility |
| Oregon | 60 school days | eval + eligibility |
| Pennsylvania | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| Rhode Island | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| South Carolina | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| South Dakota | 25 school days | evaluation |
| Tennessee | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| Texas | 45 school days | evaluation |
| Utah | 45 school days | evaluation |
| Vermont | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| Virginia | 65 business days (from referral) | eval + eligibility |
| Washington | 35 school days | eval + eligibility |
| West Virginia | 80 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| Wisconsin | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
| Wyoming | 60 calendar days | evaluation |
| District of Columbia | 60 calendar days | eval + eligibility |
State rules change and are periodically updated; some figures come from older compilations. Confirm the current number with your state's Department of Education before relying on a date. Educational information, not legal advice.
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