If you’ve ever sat at the kitchen table wondering, “How long is the school allowed to take?” you are not alone. The waiting is one of the hardest parts, especially when you can see your child struggling right now.
Here’s the good news: Alabama has clear timelines. Once you know them, you can stop guessing and start planning. These are the dates every Alabama parent should know.
The big picture
- 60 calendar days to finish the first evaluation, counted from the day the school receives your signed consent.
- 30 calendar days to decide whether your child is eligible, once the evaluation is done.
- 30 calendar days to hold the first IEP meeting after eligibility.
- 30 calendar days to hold an IEP meeting after you ask for one.
- At least once a year, the IEP team reviews the IEP.
- At least every three years, your child is reevaluated, unless you and the school both agree it isn’t needed.
Step 1: The referral (no clock yet)
When you or a teacher ask for an evaluation, the request goes to the IEP Team, which reviews it in a meeting. Alabama’s rules don’t set a number of days for that meeting. This is the step where families most often end up waiting.
What helps:
- Put your request in writing, and keep a dated copy.
- Kindly ask when the team expects to meet to review it.
Step 2: The 60-day evaluation clock
The 60-day clock starts the day the school receives your signed consent for the evaluation. Not the day you first asked, and not the day of the meeting. That signature is the starting line.
- These are calendar days, so weekends and holidays count.
- Summer break does not stop the clock. Alabama’s rule says the timeline runs through scheduled breaks and summer vacation.
- There are a few exceptions, like when a child isn’t brought in for testing, or when a child moves to another school system partway through.
Kitchen table tip: Write down the date you turned in your consent form, and ask for a copy showing the date the school received it. That one date makes everything else easy to track.
Step 3: Eligibility within 30 days
Once the evaluation is finished, the school has 30 calendar days to decide whether your child is eligible for special education. You should receive a copy of the eligibility report at no cost.
Step 4: The first IEP meeting within 30 days
After your child is found eligible, the team has 30 calendar days to meet and write the IEP. The IEP should be put into action as soon as possible after that meeting. Services begin once you give written consent for them.
Already have an IEP? Two dates to know
- You can ask for an IEP meeting at any time. The school has 30 calendar days from receiving your request to hold it. Asking in writing gives you a clear start date.
- The IEP must be reviewed at least once a year, and your child must be reevaluated at least every three years, unless you and the school agree a reevaluation isn’t needed.
A simple way to keep track
Grab a notebook (or the notes app on your phone) and write a date next to each step: your request, consent turned in, evaluation finished, eligibility decided, IEP meeting held. Count forward from each one. If a date is getting close, a short, friendly email asking about next steps usually goes a long way.
If a timeline has passed
Start with a calm, written question to your child’s team. Most delays get sorted out with good communication. If you need more support, Alabama has free help: the Alabama Parent Education Center and ADAP. The Alabama State Department of Education also explains your options for working through disagreements. For a legal question or a deadline, talk with a special education attorney.
You don’t have to figure this out alone
For the bigger picture, read The Kitchen Table Guide to Alabama Special Education. Not sure where to begin? Start here and I’ll point you to the best first step.
Already have a plan in hand and want someone to look it over? See a sample review to know exactly what you’ll get back, or read how the review works.
Source: Alabama Administrative Code, Chapter 290-8-9, rules .02 (Evaluations), .04 (Eligibility) and .05 (IEP), current through May 30, 2025, as published by Justia. Rules can change, so check the current version. This is educational information, not legal advice.
