THE BILL ITSELF
SB 72
Individual Education Plans
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 72 By Senator Harrell 31-00334-26 202672__
1
A bill to be entitled
2
An act relating to individual education plans;
3
amending s. 1003.5716, F.S.; requiring a school
4
district to complete an evaluation to determine if a
5
student is eligible for an individualized education
6
plan (IEP) within a specified timeframe; requiring an
7
IEP team meeting to be convened within a specified
8
timeframe; requiring a school district to take
9
specified actions if a related service identified in a
10
student’s IEP is not provided; providing that a parent
11
or guardian has the right to request provider logs or
12
notes within a specified timeframe; requiring the
13
school district to inform parents of such right;
14
creating s. 1003.5718, F.S.; requiring each school
15
district to provide an individualized orientation to
16
each parent or guardian of a student newly identified
17
to be eligible for exceptional student education
18
services; providing requirements for the orientation;
19
requiring the school district to obtain a signed
20
acknowledgement from each parent or guardian;
21
requiring that annual refresher orientations be
22
offered and documented; requiring that certain
23
information be retained in a student’s education
24
records; providing an effective date.
26
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28
Section 1. Subsection (5) is added to section 1003.5716,
29
Florida Statutes, to read:
30
1003.5716 Transition to postsecondary education and career
31
opportunities.—All students with disabilities who are 3 years of
32
age to 21 years of age have the right to a free, appropriate
33
public education. As used in this section, the term “IEP” means
34
individual education plan.
35
(5)(a) Within 60 calendar days after receiving parental
36
consent, a school district must complete an initial evaluation
37
to determine whether a student is eligible for an IEP. The
38
school district must convene an IEP team meeting within 30
39
calendar days after eligibility is determined.
40
(b) If a related service identified in a student’s IEP is
41
not provided as scheduled, the school district must notify the
42
parent or guardian in writing within 5 school days, explain the
43
reason the service was not provided, and provide a written plan
44
for make-up services.
45
(c) A parent or guardian has the right to access, upon
46
request, all service provider logs or progress notes within 15
47
school days after such service is provided. The school district
48
must inform parents of this right at each IEP meeting.
49
Section 2. Section 1003.5718, Florida Statutes, is created
50
to read:
51
1003.5718 Parental education, enforcement, and IEP
52
transition requirements.—
53
(1) Each school district shall provide an individualized
54
orientation to the parent or guardian of a student newly
55
identified to be eligible for exceptional student education
56
services. The orientation must include all of the following:
57
(a) An overview of procedural safeguards.
58
(b) Parental rights and responsibilities.
59
(c) Instructions on accessing and reviewing service logs.
60
(d) Instructions on filing complaints with the Department
61
of Education.
62
(2) The school district must obtain a signed acknowledgment
63
from the parent or guardian confirming receipt of the
64
orientation in a format the parent understands. Annual refresher
65
orientations must be offered and documented. All acknowledgment
66
forms must be retained in the student’s education records.
67
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.