The timelines, deadlines, and rights that apply to YOUR child's IEP in Indiana — in plain language, with the actual law attached. Verified citations, no legalese, no paywall on knowledge.
Federal law (IDEA) sets the floor; Indiana sets some of its own clocks. These are the ones parents use most:
50 instructional days from receipt of written parental consent for initial evaluation (Indiana Article 7, 511 IAC 7-40-4).
10 instructional days. The school must provide written notice within 10 instructional days of a parent request stating whether it will or will not conduct the evaluation.
The CCC (Case Conference Committee) meeting to develop the IEP occurs within the 50-day evaluation window. IEP document provided to parent no later than 10 business days after CCC meeting.
Written complaint filed with IDOE. Must include specific allegations and supporting facts. Copy to school district required. — Indiana Department of Education, Office of Special Education. 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. Indiana uses Independent Hearing Officers (IHOs) appointed by IDOE for due process hearings..
Tip: every one of these clocks starts with something in writing. Emails count. Phone calls don't.
Indiana's 'Article 7' Rule 42 — the IEP development rule. Indiana's entire special-ed framework is known as 'Article 7' to practitioners. Sets IEP content, team composition, annual review, and IN-specific provisions including: (1) Case Conference Committee (CCC) — Indiana's name for the IEP team, (2) Free Appropriate Public Education through age 22, and (3) the right to record CCC meetings with 24-hour notice.
What this means for you: Indiana uses 'Case Conference Committee' (CCC) — same function as IEP team, IN-specific terminology. IN allows recording of CCC meetings with 24-hour written notice (511 IAC 7-42-3) — explicit statutory right. IN provides FAPE through AGE 22 (older than federal 21). IN evaluation timeline: 50 INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS from receipt of consent (511 IAC 7-40-5) — instructional days = days when school is in session and students are present.
Indiana's special-education definitions and eligibility statute. Defines 'student with a disability,' incorporates the 13 federal IDEA categories, and adds Indiana's requirement that local school corporations provide special education through age 22. § 20-35 authorizes the Indiana Department of Education to administer Indiana's special education system via 511 IAC 7 (Article 7).
What this means for you: Indiana eligibility ages 3 through 22 — older than federal age 21. Indiana 13 disability categories track federal IDEA exactly. The state-specific work is in the procedural rules (Article 7), not the categories. Indiana 'Developmental Delay' eligibility extends through age 9. Indiana has 92 'school corporations' (districts) plus Indiana State Schools (deaf, blind) — services flow through whichever entity has educational responsibility.
Indiana PTI providing free information, training, and individualized support to families of children with disabilities since 1975. Serves families birth through age 26 across the entire state.
📞 (574) 234-7101
Office of Special Education
📞 (317) 232-0570
The official Indiana complaint process — use it when the school isn't following the IEP or the law.
Indiana protection & advocacy organization — legal advocacy for people with disabilities.
📞 (317) 722-5555
In Indiana: 50 instructional days from receipt of written parental consent for initial evaluation (Indiana Article 7, 511 IAC 7-40-4).. (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. Indiana's rule is the one that applies.)
10 instructional days. The school must provide written notice within 10 instructional days of a parent request stating whether it will or will not conduct the evaluation.
Written complaint filed with IDOE. Must include specific allegations and supporting facts. Copy to school district required. — Indiana Department of Education, Office of Special Education. Time limit: Violation must have occurred within 1 year of filing date. Resolution: 60 calendar days from receipt of complaint.
Yes. IN*SOURCE (Indiana Resource Center for Families with Special Needs) is Indiana's federally funded Parent Training and Information center — free help for families — (574) 234-7101.
Ask Know Your Rights any Indiana 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.