Within how many days can either party appeal the hearing officer's decision?

• A. Sixty days
• B. Ninety days
• C. One hundred twenty days
• D. Thirty days

Answer: (B)

After a hearing officer’s decision in a special education due process matter, there is a defined window to seek a higher-level review. The standard timeframe is 90 days from when the decision is issued. This period gives both parties enough time to prepare an appeal while keeping the process moving toward resolution. If the deadline is missed, the right to appeal is generally lost, though specific jurisdictional rules can vary. The other options are less typical: shorter periods like 30 or 60 days are usually too brief for a thorough appeal, while a longer period such as 120 days is not the standard in most frameworks.