California IEP Timeline Calculator
When does the school have to act?
Waiting on the school after you ask for an evaluation can feel like nothing is happening. You have rights, and the school has deadlines. Tell us the day the school got your signed consent, and we'll show you exactly when each step has to happen.
Here's your timeline
These are the latest dates the rules allow. The school can, and often should, move sooner. School-day counts use a typical US school calendar unless you enter your own under "Adjust the school calendar", so they may be off by a few school days.
Calendar reminders arrive 7 days before each date, so nothing sneaks up on you.
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California special education timelines
California counts calendar days, but with a twist: summer and any school break longer than 5 school days don't count. So a 3-week winter break pauses the clock, while a single holiday or a 5-day Thanksgiving week doesn't. Enter the date the school received your signed assessment plan and this calculator works it out.
| Step | Deadline | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment plan sent to you | 15 calendar days after the referral (breaks longer than 5 school days don't count) | Cal. Educ. Code §56043(a), §56321(a) |
| Time for you to consider the plan | At least 15 calendar days | Cal. Educ. Code §56043(b) |
| Assessment done and IEP meeting held | 60 calendar days after consent, not counting summer or breaks longer than 5 school days | Cal. Educ. Code §56043(c), §56344(a) |
| Consent 30 days or fewer before the school year ends | Within 30 days after the next school year starts | Cal. Educ. Code §56344(a) |
| Your child's records | Within 5 business days of your request, and before any IEP meeting | Cal. Educ. Code §56043(n), §56504 |
| IEP meeting you ask for in writing | Within 30 days (breaks longer than 5 school days don't count) | Cal. Educ. Code §56043(l), §56343.5 |
| Reevaluation | At least every 3 years | Cal. Educ. Code §56043(k) |
Rules last checked against the regulation text on 2026-11-08.
Common questions
How long does a California school have to hold the IEP meeting after an assessment?
60 calendar days from the date the school receives your written consent to the assessment plan, not counting days between school years or school breaks longer than 5 school days (Cal. Educ. Code §56043(c), §56344(a)).
Does winter break count toward the 60 days in California?
Not if it's longer than 5 school days. A typical 2 to 3 week winter break pauses the clock. A single holiday, or a break of 5 school days or fewer, still counts.
How fast does the school have to send me an assessment plan?
Within 15 calendar days of the referral, not counting breaks longer than 5 school days. If the referral comes 10 days or fewer before the end of the school year, the plan is due within the first 10 days of the next school year.
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