How Long Does a Missouri School Have to Evaluate My Child for Special Education?
Missouri law sets strict deadlines for special education evaluations — and most parents never know them. Here is exactly how long the school has, what triggers the clock, and what to do if they miss it.
How Long Does a Missouri School Have to Evaluate My Child for Special Education?
When you suspect your child might need special education services, one of the first things you do is ask the school to evaluate them. Then you wait. And wait. And wonder: is this normal? Are they taking too long? Do I have any recourse?
The answer is yes — Missouri law sets specific deadlines for every step of the evaluation process. Knowing those deadlines puts you in control.
The Short Answer: 60 Calendar Days
Once you provide written consent for an initial evaluation, Missouri schools have 60 calendar days to complete the evaluation and hold an eligibility meeting to review the results.
This timeline is set by Missouri's State Plan for Special Education, which implements the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The clock starts the day the school receives your signed consent form — not the day you first asked for an evaluation, and not the day the school agreed to evaluate.
That distinction matters. Schools sometimes take weeks to send you the consent form after you make a verbal request. The 60-day clock does not start until you sign and return it.
What Happens Before the Clock Starts
Before the school can evaluate your child, they must first decide whether an evaluation is warranted. Here is how that process typically unfolds:
Step 1 — You make a written request. You can request a special education evaluation in writing at any time. Send it to the school principal or special education coordinator via email or certified mail, and keep a copy. A verbal request does not trigger any legal deadlines.
Step 2 — The school has a reasonable time to respond. Missouri does not set a specific number of days for the school to respond to your request, but federal guidance suggests 60 days from the written request to consent is a reasonable outer limit. If the school is dragging its feet on even sending you the consent form, put your concern in writing.
Step 3 — You sign the consent form. Once you receive and sign the Prior Written Notice and consent form, the 60-day evaluation clock begins.
What the Evaluation Must Include
A special education evaluation is not a single test. Under IDEA and Missouri regulations, the school must conduct a comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation that looks at all areas of suspected disability. Depending on your child's needs, this may include:
- Cognitive and academic achievement testing
- Speech and language assessment
- Occupational or physical therapy evaluation
- Behavioral and social-emotional assessment
- Classroom observations
- Review of existing records and teacher input
- Parent input (which you have the right to provide in writing)
The evaluation must be conducted by a team of qualified professionals, and no single test can be the sole basis for determining eligibility.
Are There Any Exceptions to the 60-Day Rule?
Yes — a few narrow ones.
Summer break. If you provide consent within 35 days of the end of the school year, the school may extend the timeline into the following school year, as long as they complete the evaluation within the first 30 days of the new school year. This exception does not apply if your child's school operates year-round.
Parent-caused delays. If you are unavailable to participate in the evaluation process — for example, if you repeatedly cancel scheduled appointments — the school may document those delays and adjust the timeline accordingly.
Transfers. If your child transfers to a new district during the evaluation process, the new district must make a good-faith effort to complete the evaluation promptly, but the original 60-day clock may reset.
These exceptions are narrow. If the school is citing a reason for delay that does not fit one of these categories, ask for it in writing.
What If the School Misses the Deadline?
If the school does not complete the evaluation within 60 calendar days of your written consent, they are in violation of Missouri special education law. Here is what you can do:
Document everything. Note the date you signed the consent form and calculate the 60-day deadline. Keep copies of all correspondence with the school.
Contact the school in writing. Send an email or letter to the special education director noting that the deadline has passed and requesting an immediate update on the evaluation timeline.
File a state complaint. You can file a complaint with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) if the school has violated a specific provision of state or federal special education law — including missing an evaluation deadline. DESE must investigate and issue a written decision within 60 days.
Request mediation or a due process hearing. If the delay is causing harm to your child, you have the right to request mediation or a due process hearing through DESE. These are formal dispute resolution processes that can result in binding orders.
Contact an advocate. An educational advocate can help you navigate these steps, communicate with the school on your behalf, and make sure your child's rights are protected throughout the process.
What Happens After the Evaluation?
Once the evaluation is complete, the school must hold an eligibility meeting — also called a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting — to review the results and determine whether your child qualifies for special education services.
If your child is found eligible, the team must develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) within 30 days of the eligibility determination. That IEP must then be implemented as soon as possible.
If you disagree with the evaluation results, you have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at the school district's expense. The school can either agree to fund the IEE or file for a due process hearing to defend their evaluation — but they cannot simply refuse.
Missouri Evaluation Timeline at a Glance
Written request submitted — Start here. Send it in writing and keep a copy.
School sends consent form — No fixed deadline, but unreasonable delay can be challenged in writing.
You sign consent — The 60-calendar-day clock starts.
Evaluation completed and eligibility meeting held — Must happen within 60 calendar days of signed consent.
IEP developed (if eligible) — Must be completed within 30 days of eligibility determination.
IEP implemented — Must begin as soon as possible after the IEP is finalized.
You Do Not Have to Wait and Wonder
The evaluation process can feel slow and opaque — but you have real legal rights at every step. Knowing the deadlines means you can ask the right questions, push back when timelines slip, and get your child the assessment they need without unnecessary delay.
Gateway Educational Advocacy helps families throughout the St. Louis region navigate the evaluation process from start to finish. We can help you submit a written evaluation request, track deadlines, review results, and attend eligibility meetings with you — at no cost.
We serve families in St. Louis, St. Charles County, Jefferson City, Arnold, O'Fallon, and Wentzville.
Learn more about our advocacy programs or contact us today — your child's timeline should not be left to chance.
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