Florida IEP evaluation deadline: how long does the school have?

You signed the consent form. Here is exactly what Florida law requires next, and what to do if the date passes.

The part most parents miss: the 60 days are calendar days, but big chunks are excluded

Florida counts calendar days — weekends included. But the rule excludes school holidays, the Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks, and summer vacation, as adopted in your district's calendar. So the real deadline depends on your district's published calendar, not just a date 60 days out.

Two more things to know. First, if your child is PreK — age 3 up to kindergarten entry — the clock is 60 school days instead, which pushes the date further out. Second, the rule was amended effective September 23, 2025, which added an exemption for inclement weather and natural disasters.

Watch for changes in 2026

HB 615 in the 2026 legislative session proposes further timeline changes — it would put 60 calendar days plus an IEP meeting within 30 days of eligibility into statute. As of this writing the 9/23/2025 rule amendment is current law. Check the current status of HB 615 before you rely on a date.

How to count your deadline

1. Find the date the district received your signed consent. Not the date you mailed it — the date they got it.
2. Pull up your district's official school calendar for the year.
3. Count forward 60 calendar days, including weekends — but skip school holidays, Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break, and summer vacation.
4. If your child is PreK (age 3 to kindergarten entry), count 60 school days instead.
5. Add 30 calendar days only if you signed a written extension agreement before day 45.

What to do if the deadline passes

1. Put it in writing the same week. Email the case manager and the special education director. State the consent date, the deadline date, and that it has passed. A phone call creates no record.
2. Ask for prior written notice. If the district refuses or delays, you are entitled to a written explanation of what it is doing and why.
3. File a state complaint. A missed timeline is a straightforward compliance violation. In Florida this goes to the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). It is free and does not require a lawyer.
4. Keep the paper trail. Every date, every email, every response.