Special education in Indiana

What Indiana calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.

Special education in Indiana

Special education is called

Special Education

The IEP meeting

Case Conference Committee (CCC) meeting

Eligibility team

Case Conference Committee

Evaluation timeline

50 instructional days. 50 instructional days from written consent (511 IAC 7-40-5)

IEP timeline

Case conference within the 50 instructional days

Transition planning starts

14 or grade 9, whichever first (being checked)

Rights transfer to the student at

Developmental delay category

3 to 8 (child count)

Dyslexia law

yes: IC 20-35.5-2: K-2 universal dyslexia risk screening

Find your district and schools

454 districts and charter districts. 13 special education schools and 134 public charter schools.

Get your Hall Pass Schools in Indiana Services for children in Indiana (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office

Indiana Department of Education, Office of Special Education (317) 232-6610

Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)

Read the state's notice

Mediation

Ask for mediation

State complaint

File a state complaint

Due process

Ask for a due process hearing

Free help for families

Parent centers

Indiana Resource Center for Families with Special Needs (IN*SOURCE)
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), South Bend
(574) 234-7101

Disability rights agency

Indiana Disability Rights
Protection and Advocacy Agency, Indianapolis
(317) 722-5555

Advocacy groups in Indiana

Paying for it

Medicaid for children

Hoosier Healthwise

CHIP

Hoosier Healthwise (CHIP package)

Apply

Apply for coverage

Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income

yes (KFF 2026: state plan option or comparable waiver); program not named in sources checked

Schools bill Medicaid for health services

yes (limited: 504/health plan students)

Autism insurance law

yes. no age or dollar cap listed

Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities

both: Indiana Education Scholarship Account (SWD ESA); Choice Scholarship voucher (near-universal, income cap removed for 2026-27); tax-credit scholarship

Program page

Official program page

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How Indiana scores

First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.

State of Schools

Rank 4 of 51

State of Support

C+

Rank 21 of 51

Combined

B-

Rank 11 of 51

Pillar	Grade
Following the law	A-
Learning together	B
Results	B+
School funding	D+
Family protections	C
Options and transition	B+

IDEA determination 2026: Meets. How we grade.

Sources for this page are listed in the SPED Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.