The timelines, deadlines, and rights that apply to YOUR child's IEP in Michigan — in plain language, with the actual law attached. Verified citations, no legalese, no paywall on knowledge.
Federal law (IDEA) sets the floor; Michigan sets some of its own clocks. These are the ones parents use most:
30 school days from receipt of parental consent to complete evaluation, determine eligibility, and provide initial offer of FAPE.
10 school days. The school must respond to a parent evaluation request within 10 school days.
30 school days from consent covers everything including IEP development. Implementation must begin within 15 school days of the notice of offer of FAPE.
Written complaint to MDE Office of Special Education. Must include specific allegations and facts. — Michigan 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. Michigan uses Administrative Law Judges for due process hearings. Expedited hearings for discipline cases within 20 school days..
Tip: every one of these clocks starts with something in writing. Emails count. Phone calls don't.
Michigan's local district special-education programs and services statute. Each local school district must provide special-education programs and services in accordance with the ISD plan and MARSE. § 380.1751(1) explicitly mandates services ages BIRTH to 25 for eligible students. The statute also authorizes inter-district cooperation and the use of approved private schools when the public-school system cannot provide FAPE.
What this means for you: Michigan's 'Mandatory Special Education Act' (now embedded in § 380.1751) predated federal IDEA — Michigan has had a state-law right to special education since 1971. If the local district cannot provide an appropriate program, the ISD must — and if the ISD cannot, the district must place at an approved private school at district expense (MCL § 380.1751(3)). MARSE Rule 340.1721b requires Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans before any use of physical restraint or seclusion — Michigan has strong restraint/seclusion limits under MCL §§ 380.1307 through 380.1307h. Michigan transition planning begins at AGE 14 (MARSE 340.1721e) — earlier than federal 16.
Michigan's foundational special-education statute under the Revised School Code. Authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to require each intermediate school district (ISD) to submit a plan implementing special-education services. Critically, Michigan provides special-education services from BIRTH through AGE 25 — the broadest age range in the country, codified at MCL § 380.1751 and the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE) Rule 340.1702.
What this means for you: Michigan serves students with disabilities from BIRTH through AGE 25. Other states cap at 21 or 22. If your student is 22-25 and was on an IEP at 18, Michigan services may still be available. Michigan organizes special education through INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS (ISDs) — multi-district consortia. Many services flow through the ISD, not the local district. If your local district says 'we don't have that,' ask the ISD. MARSE (Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education) is the operational rulebook — Rule 340.1701 forward. Michigan evaluation timeline: 30 SCHOOL DAYS from consent to evaluation report (MARSE 340.1721), and IEP within 30 school days of the evaluation — among the FASTEST in the country.
Michigan PTI providing free information, training, and support to families of children with disabilities. Offers one-on-one consultations, workshops, and can attend IEP meetings when invited.
📞 (800) 552-4821
Office of Special Education
📞 (517) 373-0923
The official Michigan complaint process — use it when the school isn't following the IEP or the law.
Michigan protection & advocacy organization — legal advocacy for people with disabilities.
📞 (517) 487-1755
In Michigan: 30 school days from receipt of parental consent to complete evaluation, determine eligibility, and provide initial offer of FAPE.. (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. Michigan's rule is the one that applies.)
10 school days. The school must respond to a parent evaluation request within 10 school days.
Written complaint to MDE Office of Special Education. Must include specific allegations and facts. — Michigan 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. Michigan Alliance for Families is Michigan's federally funded Parent Training and Information center — free help for families — (800) 552-4821.
Ask Know Your Rights any Michigan 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.