How often are IEP meetings held?
By the IEP Atlas editorial teamLast updated
Short answer
The IEP team must meet at least once a year to review your child's IEP. A reevaluation must happen at least every 3 years. You can also ask for a meeting at any time, for example when your child is not making progress. Many children have 1 or 2 meetings a year, but there is no upper limit.
Federal law sets a floor, not a ceiling. The IEP team must review the IEP at least once a year to see whether your child is meeting the goals.[1] The team must also look at the IEP again whenever there is a reason to, such as slow progress, new information from you, or a new evaluation.
So the honest answer is "at least once a year, and more when needed." This page explains each kind of meeting, shows one made-up school year, and gives you words to ask for a meeting. For how a meeting runs from start to finish, see the IEP meeting guide.
The meetings the rules require
| Meeting | How often | Where the rule comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Annual review | At least once every 12 months | 34 CFR 300.324[1] |
| Reevaluation | At least once every 3 years, unless you and the school agree it is not needed | 34 CFR 300.303[2] |
| Reevaluation more often | Not more than once a year, unless you and the school agree | 34 CFR 300.303[2] |
| First IEP meeting | Within 30 days after your child is found eligible | 34 CFR 300.323[3] |
The reevaluation is a check on whether your child still needs special education and what the needs are now. It often ends with an IEP meeting too. Some schools hold the reevaluation and the annual review on the same day.
Meetings that happen when needed
Beyond the required meetings, the team can meet whenever something changes. Common reasons:
- Your child is not making expected progress on one or more goals.
- You have new information, such as an outside evaluation or a new diagnosis.
- A goal was met early and your child needs a new one.
- Behavior is getting in the way of learning, or there has been a discipline issue.
- A change of school or program is being considered.
- Your child is turning 16 (or younger in some states) and transition planning starts.
Small changes do not always need a meeting. You and the school can agree to change the IEP without meeting, using a written document. The rest of the team must be told about the change, and you can ask for a copy of the updated IEP.[1]
One school year, step by step
Here is a made-up example for a child named Maya, in grade 3. Hold it next to your own child's papers to see how the dates line up.
| Date | What happened | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| October 14 | Annual review | Goals and services set for the year. The next annual review is due by October 13 of next year. |
| November 20 | First progress report | Maya was behind on her reading goal. Her parent wrote to ask for a meeting. |
| December 9 | Meeting by request | The team added 30 minutes a week of reading help and changed one accommodation. |
| February 3 | Amendment without a meeting | The parent and school agreed in writing to add a calculator for math tests. |
| May 18 | Reevaluation planning | Maya's 3-year reevaluation is due next fall. The team decided what testing, if any, is needed. |
| October 6 | Annual review and reevaluation meeting | Both were held together, a week before the deadline. |
In this example, Maya had 3 meetings in 12 months and one change made in writing. Another child might have only the annual review. Both are normal.
How to ask for a meeting
Put your request in writing, even if you also call. Email is fine. Say what you want to talk about and offer a few dates. A short example:
Federal rules do not set a deadline for the school to hold a meeting you ask for. Many states do set one, and the timelines differ. Your state's special education office or your Parent Training and Information Center can tell you the rule where you live.[5] The school must schedule meetings at a time and place you both agree on.[4]
Questions to ask the team
You can say these word for word.
- "When is my child's next annual review due?"
- "When is the next reevaluation due, and what will it include?"
- "Can we meet sooner than the annual review if progress is slow?"
- "Is this change small enough to make in writing, or should we meet?"
- "Will you send me a copy of the IEP after any change?"
- "How will I hear about progress between meetings?"
- "Who should I contact if I want to ask for a meeting?"
What to do next
- Find the date on your child's current IEP. The next annual review is due within 12 months of that date. The IEP due date calculator works it out for you.
- Find the date of the last evaluation to see when the 3-year reevaluation is due.
- Read the progress reports when they come home. The guide on how to read a progress report explains what to look for. If progress is slow, ask for a meeting.
- To plan a meeting, use the parent checklist and check how long an IEP meeting usually takes.
- For free help, contact your state's Parent Training and Information Center. You can find yours through the Center for Parent Information and Resources.[5]
Frequently asked questions
Can I ask for an IEP meeting at any time?
Yes. You can ask for a meeting whenever you have a concern. Put the request in writing and say what you want to discuss. Your state may set how soon the school must respond.
Is there a limit on how many IEP meetings a child can have?
Federal law does not set a limit. The team must meet at least once a year and should meet again whenever the IEP needs a look, such as when progress is slow or new information comes in.
Does a reevaluation always mean new testing?
No. The team first reviews what it already knows. If that is enough, you and the school can agree that no new tests are needed. You can still ask for testing.
Use it in IEP Atlas
- Annual review in the IEP glossary
- Reevaluation in the IEP glossary
- IEP team in the IEP glossary
- IEP due date calculator
Related guides
- The IEP meeting: before, during and after
- How long is an IEP meeting?
- IEP meeting checklist for parents
- Triennial reevaluation: new testing vs record review
- Facilitated IEP meetings: what they are and how to ask for one
- Virtual IEP meetings: how to run one that works
- Handling disagreement in a difficult IEP meeting
Sources
- 34 CFR §300.324: Development, review, and revision of IEP, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- 34 CFR §300.303: Reevaluations, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- 34 CFR §300.323: When IEPs must be in effect, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
- 34 CFR §300.322: Parent participation, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
- Center for Parent Information and Resources, CPIR
Written and checked by the IEP Atlas editorial team under our editorial policy. This guide describes general practice and federal rules. It is not legal advice; your state may add requirements, and the IEP team makes the decisions for each student.