Briefing Kit · Regulatory UpdateWhat Changed July 1 · Oct. 9, 2026
What changed for Florida ESE on July 1, 2026, and what is on its way.
One Florida ESE law took effect on July 1, 2026. A State Board rule on AI followed in September, with district policies due by July 1, 2027. And a 2013 duty still closes every IEP meeting. Each column gives the law’s own words, what it asks of a school and the date it binds. Dates first, then the words, then the work.
In effect · July 1, 2026
A missed related service owes a notice
HB 1279: notice within 10 school days, the reason and a make-up plan
At every IEP meeting
Two lines on paper
The signed end-of-meeting statement (2013) and the provider-log right (new)
Adopted · Sept. 16, 2026
The State Board’s AI rule
Rule 6A-1.0957: AI never decides without human review
Due · July 1, 2027
An AI policy from every board
District and charter boards amend their internet safety policy
A missed related service now owes the parent a notice, a reason and a make-up plan
CS/CS/HB 1279 · Ch. 2026-59, §14 · F.S. §1003.5716(5)
“If a related service identified in a student’s IEP is not provided as scheduled, the school district must notify the parent or guardian in writing or by electronic means within 10 school days, explain the reason the service was not provided, and discuss a plan for make-up services.”F.S. §1003.5716(5)(a), as created by Ch. 2026-59
- School
- Notify the parent within 10 school days, with the reason and a make-up plan.
- Records
- Provider logs and progress notes to a parent on request within 15 school days ((5)(b)).
- Meeting
- Tell the parent of that right at every IEP meeting.
Open question. The statute does not define “not provided as scheduled”; settle student absences with counsel.
Every board adopts an AI policy by July 1, 2027, and AI never decides without a person
Rule 6A-1.0957, F.A.C., the AI amendment · Notice of Change Sept. 18, 2026
“AI is never used as a decision maker absent human review for any use case, such as but not limited to: grading, evaluations, … Exceptional Student Education (ESE) referrals, or communications.”Rule 6A-1.0957(3)(e)10., as noticed
- Board
- Adopt and implement an AI policy amendment by July 1, 2027; charter boards too.
- Scope
- Parent notice and opt-in cover tools “made available to students”; human review covers every use.
- ESE
- An AI draft of an evaluation, referral or communication needs a person’s decision.
Status. No effective date was posted on flrules.org when checked.
Every IEP meeting still ends with a signed statement on whether the parent was discouraged from bringing someone
CS/SB 1108 (2013) · F.S. §1002.20(21)(a)2.
“The parents and school district personnel attending the meeting shall sign a document at the meeting’s conclusion which states whether any school district personnel have prohibited, discouraged, or attempted to discourage the parents from inviting a person of their choice to the meeting.”F.S. §1002.20(21)(a)2.
- Meeting
- Every parent and staff member present signs at the close; a record, not a consent.
- Admin
- A “yes” is a finding about staff conduct: follow up and keep it on file.
Not new. And easy to leave out of a meeting pack built from the IEP form.
- In effect · Sept. 23, 2025Rule 6A-6.0331(3)(g): an initial evaluation is due 60 calendar days from consent; late ones go on a quarterly report to FLDOE ((3)(j)).
- In effect · July 1, 2026Ch. 2026-70 (CS/HB 453): Special Olympics participation can satisfy the PE credit for a standard diploma.
- Did not pass · Mar. 13, 2026HB 615 and SB 72 (a parent orientation, a standard service log) died in committee.
The law’s dates, counted on your district’s calendar.
Every clock on this sheet is dated in IEPeasyhub the way its rule counts it, with the reason for the date.
Start free iepeasyhub.com
