Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 33— - EDUCATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - ASSISTANCE FOR EDUCATION OF ALL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES › § 1414
Requires public school agencies to fully evaluate a child before starting special education. A parent or the agency can ask for an initial evaluation. The evaluation must find out whether the child has a disability and what education the child needs. It must be finished within 60 days after the parent gives permission, unless the State sets a different deadline. If a child moves between districts during an evaluation, the new district must finish the evaluation quickly if the parent and districts agree. Teacher screenings to plan lessons are not the same as an evaluation. Parents must give informed permission before an evaluation. Permission for an evaluation is not permission to place a child in special education. If a parent won’t give permission, the school may use formal legal procedures in some cases; if a parent refuses services, the school cannot force them and is not considered to have failed to provide services. Schools must re-evaluate a child when needed or when the parent or teacher asks, but not more than once a year unless agreed and at least once every 3 years. Evaluations must use many valid tools, be nondiscriminatory, be given in the right language, cover all suspected areas, and be done by trained staff. A team of qualified professionals and the parent decide eligibility and give the parent a copy of the report. A child cannot be found eligible only because of poor reading or math instruction or limited English. For specific learning disabilities, schools do not have to use a severe discrepancy model and may use response-to-intervention. An IEP is a written plan the school must have for each student with a disability each year. The IEP says current skills, measurable yearly goals, how progress is checked, the services and supports the child will get, how much the child will be with non-disabled peers, needed testing accommodations, when services start and how often they happen, and, starting by age 16, measurable postsecondary goals and transition services (and a notice 1 year before the age of majority). The IEP Team includes the parents, a regular teacher, a special education teacher or provider, a qualified school representative, someone who can explain test results, others with knowledge about the child as needed, and the child when appropriate. Team members can be excused in writing. Parents must be part of placement decisions, and meetings may be held by phone or video if the parent and school agree.
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Legislative History
Reference
Citation
20 U.S.C. § 1414
Title 20 — Education
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73