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Special education in Michigan

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

Special education in Michigan

Special education is called
Special Education
The IEP meeting
IEP team meeting
Eligibility team
MET (Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team)
Evaluation timeline
30 school days. 30 school days from consent to the IEP meeting and offer of services (MARSE R 340.1721b)
IEP timeline
Within the same 30 school days
Transition planning starts
16 (being checked)
Rights transfer to the student at
18
Developmental delay category
3 to 7 (Early Childhood Developmental Delay; child count)
Dyslexia law
yes: MCL 380.1280f (2024 PA 146/147): universal K-3 dyslexia screening from 2027-28 (not yet in effect)
State categories
Early Childhood Developmental Delay; cognitive impairment; physical impairment; severe multiple impairment

Find your district and schools

882 districts and charter districts. 199 special education schools and 366 public charter schools.

Get your Hall PassSchools in MichiganServices for children in Michigan (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office
Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)
Mediation
State complaint
Due process

Free help for families

Parent centers

Disability rights agency

Advocacy groups in Michigan

Paying for it

Medicaid for children
Healthy Kids (Michigan Medicaid)
CHIP
MIChild
Apply
Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income
yes: Home Care Children's/TEFRA Program
Schools bill Medicaid for health services
yes
Autism insurance law
yes. through 18; $50,000 (to 6), $40,000 (7 to 12), $30,000 (13 to 18) per year
Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities
none

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How Michigan 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

C

Rank 27 of 51

State of Support

B

Rank 12 of 51

Combined

B-

Rank 16 of 51

PillarGrade
Following the lawD
Learning togetherC-
ResultsD
School fundingA
Family protectionsC
Options and transitionB+

IDEA determination 2026: Needs Assistance (2 or more years). 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.