The timelines, deadlines, and rights that apply to YOUR child's IEP in Arkansas — in plain language, with the actual law attached. Verified citations, no legalese, no paywall on knowledge.
Federal law (IDEA) sets the floor; Arkansas sets some of its own clocks. These are the ones parents use most:
60 calendar days from receipt of written parental consent to complete evaluation. Referral conference must be scheduled within 7 days of referral and held within 21 days.
7 days to schedule referral conference, 21 days to hold it. Then consent triggers the 60-day evaluation clock.
30 calendar days after eligibility determination, the IEP team must meet to develop the IEP.
Written complaint filed with DESE. Must include specific allegations and supporting facts. — Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Special Education Unit. File violation must have occurred within 1 year of filing date. Resolved in 60 calendar days from receipt of complaint.
Resolution session: Within 15 days of due process complaint filing. Hearing decision: 45 days after resolution period ends. Arkansas uses hearing officers for due process..
Tip: every one of these clocks starts with something in writing. Emails count. Phone calls don't.
Arkansas special-education entitlement statute. Establishes FAPE for children with disabilities ages 3-21. Arkansas follows federal IDEA timelines: 60 calendar days from consent to eligibility determination.
What this means for you: AR follows federal IDEA timelines (60 calendar days). AR Arkansas Disability Coalition is the state PTI. AR Department of Education Special Education Unit administers monitoring. AR Succeed Scholarship is the voucher program — acceptance has IDEA-rights implications.
Arkansas IEP development statute. Adopts federal IDEA content requirements and adds: (1) the IEP team must consider Arkansas Dyslexia Therapy services (separate from but layered with IDEA), (2) transition planning begins by age 16, and (3) parental consent required for each annual IEP.
What this means for you: AR Dyslexia Therapy considered at IEP for students with dyslexia diagnoses — separate from IDEA SLD eligibility. AR uses federal age 16 for transition. AR requires consent for the annual IEP — not just initial placement. AR Parent Information Center (Arkansas Disability Coalition) provides free advocacy.
Arkansas PTI providing free advocacy, training, and information to families of children with disabilities statewide.
📞 (800) 482-1174
Special Education Unit
📞 (501) 682-4225
The official Arkansas complaint process — use it when the school isn't following the IEP or the law.
Arkansas protection & advocacy organization — legal advocacy for people with disabilities.
📞 (501) 296-1775
In Arkansas: 60 calendar days from receipt of written parental consent to complete evaluation. Referral conference must be scheduled within 7 days of referral and held within 21 days.. (Context: federal law sets a default of 60 calendar days from parental consent — 34 CFR § 300.301(c) — and allows each state to set its own timeframe. Arkansas's rule is the one that applies.)
7 days to schedule referral conference, 21 days to hold it. Then consent triggers the 60-day evaluation clock.
Written complaint filed with DESE. Must include specific allegations and supporting facts. — Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Special Education Unit. Time limit: Violation must have occurred within 1 year of filing date. Resolution: 60 calendar days from receipt of complaint.
Yes. Arkansas Disability Rights Center (ADRC) / PTI is Arkansas's federally funded Parent Training and Information center — free help for families — (800) 482-1174.
Ask Know Your Rights any Arkansas IEP question in plain language, free. And before the school year starts, run the free Fall IEP Audit — it grades last spring's IEP so you know exactly what to push on.
Ask Know Your Rights → Run the Free Fall AuditShort, practical, from a mom who's been in that chair — a script to use, a right to know, a deadline to watch. No spam, never sold, unsubscribe anytime.