General information and document preparation — not legal advice.
Special education by state
Special Education & IEP Help in Delaware
If your child has — or might need — an IEP in Delaware, this page puts the Delaware-specific rules into plain English: how long an evaluation can take, how Delaware 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; Delaware adds the details below.
How long does an IEP evaluation take in Delaware?
Delaware must finish your child's first evaluation within 45 school days or 90 calendar days after you sign consent—whichever comes first.
That differs from the federal default of 60 calendar days, so Delaware sets its own clock.
Delaware's federal IDEA rating
Delaware 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 Delaware
Two places help Delaware families at no cost:
Parent Training & Information Center (free, federally funded)
Delaware special-education agency
Delaware Department of Education — Exceptional Children Resources
How to file a special-education complaint in Delaware
File a signed Special Education State Complaint Form with the DE Dept. of Education within 1 year of the problem; the state then has 60 days to decide.
Your rights everywhere (federal law)
These IDEA rights apply in Delaware 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.