Changing schools is hard for many autistic children, and the paperwork side can be just as stressful for parents. The good news is that an IEP does not simply disappear when you move. Federal law and a Florida rule both require the new school district to keep serving your child while it decides what comes next. The details depend on whether you are moving within Florida or from another state, and on timing. This guide explains the rules, the timelines and the steps to take before and after the move, with scripts you can use.
What happens to my child's IEP when we move within Florida?
Florida's rule on transferring students, Rule 6A-6.0334, Florida Administrative Code, says that when a student with an IEP in effect in one Florida school district transfers to a new Florida district and enrolls in a new school, the new district, in consultation with the parents, must provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE), including services comparable to those in the previous IEP, until it either:
- adopts the IEP from the previous district, or
- develops, adopts and implements a new IEP that meets Florida's rules.
Because Florida districts use the same state eligibility rules, a move within Florida does not usually mean starting eligibility over. The federal rule for transfers within a state, 34 CFR 300.323(e), says the same for transfers within the same school year.
What happens when we move to Florida from another state?
For a student who had an IEP in effect in another state and transfers to a Florida district and enrolls in a new school within the same school year, Rule 6A-6.0334(3) says the Florida district, in consultation with the parents, must provide FAPE, including services comparable to those in the out-of-state IEP, until it:
- conducts an initial evaluation, if the new district decides one is necessary; and
- develops, adopts and implements a new IEP that meets Florida's rules.
The rule adds that the new district does not need parental consent for the initial provision of services for transferring students determined eligible under this rule. The federal version, 34 CFR 300.323(f), is nearly identical.
Two things often surprise families moving from out of state:
- "Comparable" does not mean identical. The district provides similar services while it gets to know your child. Minutes, settings or providers may look different.
- Florida may evaluate again. Florida has its own criteria for autism spectrum disorder eligibility (Rule 6A-6.03023). If the district decides an evaluation is needed, it is treated as an initial evaluation. Our guide to Florida ESE autism eligibility explains the criteria.
How long can a new evaluation and IEP take?
If Florida decides to evaluate, these timelines from Florida's rules apply:
| Step | Timeline | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Parent consent for evaluation | Required before an initial evaluation | Rule 6A-6.0331(4) |
| Evaluation completed | Within 60 calendar days after the district receives parent consent (school holidays, breaks, the summer period and some absences are excluded) | Rule 6A-6.0331(3)(g) |
| Possible extension | Up to 30 more calendar days by mutual written agreement, signed before day 45 and after formal testing has begun | Rule 6A-6.0331(3)(h) |
| Initial IEP | Within 30 calendar days after eligibility is determined | Rule 6A-6.03028(3)(e) |
| Comparable services | Continue until the new IEP is in place | Rule 6A-6.0334(3) |
Our guide to the 60-day school evaluation timeline explains which days count.
What if we move over the summer?
Both the Florida rule and the federal rule are written for transfers "within the same school year." If your child finishes the year in one place and starts the new year in Florida, ask the new district early how it will handle eligibility and services for the first day of school. Florida's IEP rule says an IEP must be in effect at the start of each school year for eligible students, so the sooner the district has your child's records, the better. Contact the district's Exceptional Student Education (ESE) office as soon as you have an address, send the records, and ask for a meeting before school starts.
How do my child's records get to the new school?
Rule 6A-6.0334(5) says the new district must promptly obtain the student's records, including the IEP, supporting documents and other special education records, from the previous district, and the previous district must promptly respond. In practice, records can still take time. Bring your own copies so the new school can start right away.
Military families have extra protection under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which Florida adopted in s. 1000.36, Florida Statutes. If official records cannot be released to parents for the move, the sending school must give the parent a complete set of unofficial records, and the receiving school must enroll and place the student based on them while it requests the official records, which the sending school must send within 10 days (or as set by the compact's rules). The compact also says the receiving state must initially provide comparable services based on the student's current IEP. Your installation's school liaison can help; see our guide to school liaison officers in Florida.
What should I bring to the first meeting?
A transfer folder saves weeks. Bring copies of:
- the current IEP, including all pages on services, minutes, accommodations and placement;
- the most recent evaluation reports (school and private) and the eligibility determination;
- recent progress reports and report cards;
- any behavior intervention plan and functional behavior assessment;
- any Section 504 plan, if your child had one before the IEP;
- medical diagnosis documents, medication lists and health plans;
- your private ABA treatment plan and latest progress report, if you want the school to consider them; and
- a one-page profile of your child: strengths, interests, communication, what helps and what upsets them.
What should I say when I call the new district?
A short, clear request helps. An example script for the ESE office:
"My child has an IEP from [district or state] and we are enrolling at [school] on [date]. I would like to make sure comparable services start right away under Rule 6A-6.0334. I can provide a copy of the current IEP and evaluations today. Can we schedule a meeting to review the IEP, and can you tell me whether the district plans to adopt it, write a new one, or evaluate?"
Follow up in writing by email, and keep a log of who you spoke with and when. If the district decides to evaluate, ask for the consent form so the 60-day clock can start.
What are my child's rights once the new IEP is written?
Once your child has a Florida IEP, the usual Florida rules apply. A few worth knowing:
- Who attends. You can invite people with knowledge or special expertise about your child, such as a private BCBA. See our guide on bringing a BCBA to the IEP meeting.
- Special consents. Florida requires separate written parent consent, with 10 days' notice of the meeting, before a student is taught on Access Points (alternate assessment) or placed in an ESE center school.
- Missed services. Since July 1, 2026, if a related service in the IEP is not provided as scheduled, the district must notify you within 10 school days and discuss make-up services, and you can ask for service logs. See our guide to the 2026 missed-services law.
- Private ABA at school. Florida law (s. 1003.572) lets private instructional personnel, including RBTs, work with students in public schools under certain conditions. See our guide to private ABA in public school.
- Disagreements. If you disagree with a decision, you have dispute options, from an IEP meeting to mediation and due process. See our guide to IEP dispute options in Florida.
For the whole process from the start, see our Florida IEP guide for autistic students, and for the move itself, our checklist for moving to Florida with an autistic child.
How can Hope Center help during a school move?
A school move often comes with a therapy move. Hope Center for Behavior Change provides ABA in homes, schools, daycares and the community, with centers in West Palm Beach, Temple Terrace, Port Charlotte, Jacksonville and Sebring. Where the family and school allow it, our staff can join IEP meetings to share what your child is working on in ABA. We have no waitlist; from first call to first session can be as little as three weeks when paperwork moves quickly, and we check your insurance benefits for free. We work with Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East, and offer self-pay with a sliding scale. Contact us or call 561-337-8865, or read our new families page.