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SDLA Compliance Resource

Request and Send Special Education Records Within California's Five-Working-Day Handoff

A receiving-and-sending LEA control that rapidly transfers the IEP, assessments, services, behavior, health, technology, and placement information needed for immediate continuity.

  • Special Education
  • Records Transfer
  • Service Continuity
Date(s)Receiving LEA requests records within five working days after enrollment; former LEA sends them within five working days after receiving the request
Applies toCalifornia LEAs transferring records for a student with an IEP

In Plain Language: The receiving LEA quickly requests the student's special education records, and the former LEA sends them within the separate five-working-day clock. Service continuity begins at enrollment; records delay is not permission to delay comparable services.

Why this matters

A transcript alone cannot communicate goals, minutes, behavior supports, assistive technology, assessment history, health procedures, transportation, or parent agreements.

Joint ownership

Requester: receiving LEA registrar/special education office. Sender: prior LEA records custodian/case manager. Partners: SELPAs, providers, AT/property, health, transportation, behavior, and CALPADS staff.

Operational workflow

  1. 1. At enrollment, identify the prior LEA/SELPA and send a secure comprehensive special education records request within five working days.
  2. 2. Prior LEA date-stamps receipt and assembles the complete current and historical record, including IEP, assessments, services, discipline/behavior, health, AT, transport, notices, and consent.
  3. 3. Send securely within five working days with a manifest and named follow-up contact; transfer devices/data through the separate AT continuity process.
  4. 4. Receiving staff reconcile the file to comparable services, provider schedules, placement decisions, CALPADS records, and missing components.

Five-day handoff

Enroll and start comparable services
Receiving LEA requests within 5 working days
Prior LEA sends within 5 working days of request
Receiving team reconciles and closes gaps

Evidence to retain

  • Enrollment and request timestamp
  • Sending receipt and deadline calculation
  • Complete record manifest and secure delivery
  • AT/device and provider handoff
  • Receiving reconciliation and missing-record follow-up

Official guidance and help

Source review completed August 30, 2026. Verify current federal and California law, court or OAH instructions, local SELPA procedures, individual circumstances, and the exact service and records state before acting.