General information and document preparation — not legal advice.
Special education by state
Special Education & IEP Help in California
If your child has — or might need — an IEP in California, this page puts the California-specific rules into plain English: how long an evaluation can take, how California rates on federal special-education oversight, the people who help for free, and exactly how to push back when something is wrong. Federal law (IDEA) is the floor everywhere; California adds the details below.
How long does an IEP evaluation take in California?
California gives 60 days from your written consent to test your child and hold the IEP meeting, not counting school breaks longer than 5 days.
That differs from the federal default of 60 calendar days, so California sets its own clock.
Source: Cal. Educ. Code § 56344(a)
California's federal IDEA rating
California is currently rated “Meets requirements” — the U.S. Department of Education found that the state met federal special-education requirements in its most recent annual review. That is the top of four ratings — but it does not guarantee your own district is following the law.
Where to get free help in California
Two places help California families at no cost:
Parent Training & Information Center (free, federally funded)
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) — Parent Training and Information Center
California special-education agency
California Department of Education — Special Education Division
How to file a special-education complaint in California
Write and sign a complaint describing the violation and email it to speceducation@cde.ca.gov; file within one year of the problem.
Your rights everywhere (federal law)
These IDEA rights apply in California and every state. Start here:
Understand your child's IEP — line by line
IEP Path decodes the plan into plain language, flags what's weak or missing, and writes the letters — in English and Spanish.