Why plans use two units
Federal rules ask an IEP to state the anticipated frequency, location and duration of each service (34 CFR 300.320(a)(7), last reviewed 26 September 2026). They do not say per week or per month; that is a choice your district, state forms or IEP team make. A weekly figure is easy to schedule and easy to check. A monthly figure absorbs a holiday, a field trip or a testing week, because the minutes can be made up later in the month.
Conversion table
| Minutes per month | Per week at 4 weeks | Per week at 4.33 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 15 | 13.9 |
| 120 | 30 | 27.7 |
| 180 | 45 | 41.6 |
| 240 | 60 | 55.4 |
| 360 | 90 | 83.1 |
The 4.33 column is the calendar average (52 weeks over 12 months). The 4 column is the usual planning figure, and it rounds in the student's favour: scheduling 60 a week against 240 a month gives 260 in a month with four and a third school weeks.
Worked example
A student's plan says 240 minutes a month of language therapy, in 30 minute sessions. At 4 weeks a month the weekly target is 60, so two 30 minute sessions a week. In a month with a week off for a break, the student gets three weeks of sessions, 180 minutes, and is 60 short for the month unless the missed sessions are made up. With a weekly plan of 60 minutes the same break is simply a missed week, handled by your district's make-up rules.
In MinuteGrid, choose per month on the student, set weeks in a month on the Week tab (it starts at 4), and the minutes report shows the weekly target, the scheduled weekly minutes and the monthly equivalent side by side.
Check that the sessions can reach the target
Session length times sessions per week must reach the weekly target. A 45 minute weekly target with 30 minute sessions needs two sessions, which is 60 minutes: over by 15, which is usually fine. A 25 minute target with 20 minute sessions needs two, not one. MinuteGrid flags a plan that cannot reach its minutes before you build anything.
Common mistakes
- Entering monthly minutes as weekly, which quadruples the student's time.
- Dividing by 4 on one caseload and 4.33 on another without writing it down.
- Assuming a break week does not count against a monthly total.
- A session plan that falls short of the weekly target by a few minutes every week.
Next
Once every student has a weekly target, follow how to schedule IEP service minutes, step by step, or read the guide to minutes, groups and blocks.
Last reviewed 26 September 2026. MinuteGrid is not affiliated with any school district, state education agency, or professional association.