Special education evaluation at school (ages 6 to 21)
Colorado · Your school district or BOCES (the administrative unit), under Colorado Department of Education rules
Our summary
Under Colorado's special education rules, each school district or BOCES has to find and evaluate children ages 3 to 21 who may have a disability, even if they are moving from grade to grade. A parent can start a special education referral. The rule's 60 calendar days for the first evaluation count from when the request is received and the parent has given written consent.
- A parent can start the referral
- 60 days, counted from request and written consent
Read the state rule (section 4.02)
What happens after you knock
- The 60 days count from when both are true: the request has been received, and the parent has given written consent for the evaluation.
- The rule sets 60 calendar days for the initial evaluation.
No answer?
PEAK Parent Center helps families and youth with disabilities take part in the IEP process: 719-531-9400.
If the answer is no
PEAK Parent Center helps families and youth with disabilities take part in the IEP process: 719-531-9400.
Disability Justice works on restraint and seclusion in public K-12 schools, for requests that fit its focus areas.
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PEAK Parent CenterPEAK Parent Center helps families and youth with disabilities take part in the IEP process.In their words6 quotes ›
“Each administrative unit shall develop and implement procedures for locating, identifying and evaluating all children ages three to 21 who may have a disability and are eligible for special education services under IDEA Part B (ages 3 to 21) even though such children are advancing from grade to grade.”sos.state.co.us
“A special education referral may be initiated by:”sos.state.co.us
“The parent of the child; or”sos.state.co.us
“Once a written special education referral has been initiated, the initial evaluation, shall be completed within 60 calendar days from the point of initiation of the special education referral.”sos.state.co.us
“The request for an initial evaluation is received from the parent and the parent provides written consent to conduct the initial evaluation.”sos.state.co.us
“Find information regarding Kindergarten through 12th grade special education at the CDE Office of Special Education.”ed.cde.state.co.us
Checked Nov 1, 2026 against sos.state.co.us, ed.cde.state.co.us. Something changed? Tell us