LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeEducation CodeCh. 4Art. 3§ 56344 Iep Development Timeline

§ 56344 Iep Development Timeline

Education Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 56344 Iep Development Timeline

Key Takeaways

  • •Schools have 60 days to make a special education plan after parents agree to testing. They don’t count long breaks like summer vacation.
  • •If a child is referred for testing less than 30 days before school ends, the plan must be ready within 30 days of the next school year starting.
  • •The school must hold a meeting within 30 days if they decide the child needs special help.
  • •Special education services must start as soon as possible after the plan is made.

Example

A parent agrees to have their child tested for special education on March 1st. The school has until May 1st (60 days later, not counting spring break) to create the plan.

The school must follow the 60-day rule to make the plan. If they don’t, the parent can ask them to hurry up.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 56344 Iep Development Timeline

(a) An individualized education program required as a result of an assessment of a pupil shall be developed within a total time not to exceed 60 days, not counting days between the pupil’s regular school sessions, terms, or days of school vacation in excess of five schooldays, from the date of receipt of the parent’s written consent for assessment, unless the parent agrees, in writing, to an extension. However, an individualized education program required as a result of an assessment of a pupil shall be developed within 30 days after the commencement of the subsequent regular school year as determined by each local educational agency’s school calendar for each pupil for whom a referral has been made 30 days or less prior to the end of the regular school year. In the case of pupil school vacations, the 60-day time shall recommence on the date that pupil schooldays reconvene. A meeting to develop an initial individualized education program for the pupil shall be conducted within 30 days of a determination that the pupil needs special education and related services pursuant to Section 300.323(c)(1) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (b) Pursuant to Section 300.323(c)(2) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as soon as possible following development of the individualized education program, special education and related services shall be made available to the individual with exceptional needs in accordance with the individual’s individualized education program. (c) Each local educational agency shall have an individualized education program in effect for each individual with exceptional needs within its jurisdiction at the beginning of each school year in accordance with subdivision (a) and pursuant to Section 300.323(a) and (b) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 454, Sec. 19. Effective October 10, 2007.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

educationassessmentschoolterminationstudentregulationaccordanceeffective october

Related Statutes

  • § 56302.1 Special Education Assessment Timeline
  • § 56340 Iep Meeting Requirements
  • § 56342 Iep Team Placement Decisions
  • § 56342.1 Nonpublic School Placement Requirements
  • § 56380 Iep Annual Review Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Education Code. Section 56344.
View Official Source