Home Infant Toddler Program Transition Handbook

Five Steps for Accessing Special Education Services from Your Local Education Agency

(Ages 3 to 5 years)

Children who are eligible for special education related services will begin receiving them from the LEA on their third birthday. If your child's birthday is during the summer, your child's services will start at the beginning of the next school year. The following information will serve as a step-by-step guide to help you access services for your child.

Step 1

Referring Your Child to the LEA

• With your permission, the LEA will be contacted by your CSC six months before your child’s third birthday if you have been receiving Infant-Toddler Program services.
• Children in the Infant-Toddler Program may be referred six months prior to their third birthday for evaluations needed to determine eligibility for the Preschool Program. This is an informal referral to the LEA. The required paperwork is not completed at this time. For children with vision or hearing impairments, a preliminary meeting with the LEA should occur at this time so that appropriate planning can begin for your child.
• If your child is 3 years or older and not receiving services, you may refer your child directly to the LEA if you have concerns.

Step 2

Gathering and Reviewing Information about Your Child

Before special education and related services begin, a full individualized evaluation must be conducted in your child's native language or way of communicating. The purpose of this evaluation is to decide whether your child has a disability that affects his or her learning.

Evaluation information that is already available and not older than one year may be used by the school. Any information you can provide regarding your child's medical, educational, or social history may be helpful. If you agree, you will need to sign release of information forms so these records can be sent to your LEA.

The Evaluation Process

• Any needed evaluations for your child will be completed by a multi-disciplinary team.
• A variety of assessment tools, strategies, and techniques are required to gather information to establish your child's eligibility. If your child is eligible, the information will help in writing the IEP.
• After the evaluations have been completed, a written report will be given to you. This report will include the evaluation results and recommendations, which should be explained to you in a way that you will understand.

Step 3

Participating in the Transition Planning Meeting

The transition planning meeting should occur at least 90 days before your child's third birthday, as required by federal regulation. (The transition planning meeting can occur up to 6 months prior to the third birthday, if all parties agree.) The purpose of the meeting is to develop a transition plan for your child and family. This plan outlines the activities needed for you and your child to move from the Infant-Toddler Program to the LEA Preschool Program at age three, if your child is to be eligible for services. If your child is not going to receive services through the Part B Preschool Program, then other preschool services will be discussed. This transition plan should be included in your child's IFSP.

Who Will Attend the Transition Planning Meeting?

• You, as parent or guardian.
• Your CSC, who coordinates this conference.
• The LEA representative, such as a Preschool Coordinator or someone from the special education staff if it looks like your child may qualify for Preschool Program services.
• A representative from the evaluation agency, if appropriate.
• Any other persons or service providers who might help support and develop the transition plan can be invited, by the parents or CSC.

Tasks of this Meeting May Include:

• Making an official referral of the child to the LEA. (Usually only done if all the evaluations are completed.)
• Deciding if further information is needed to determine eligibility for the Preschool Program. (If evaluations are needed, you and your CSC make plans to obtain them,)
• Discussing the IEP development and placement options if it looks like your child will qualify for Preschool Program services.
• Reviewing or updating the transition plan on the IFSP so that services are continued by the Infant-Toddler Program until the date that preschool services begin.
• If your child is thought to be eligible for the Part B Preschool Program, this meeting can be a time to meet the special education representative from your LEA. You can share information about your child and discuss eligibility. You will receive information about the special education program options and make plans to visit possible sites.

Transition Plan

• The transition plan should be written in the IFSP. Your plan should include the steps necessary for obtaining Preschool Program services at age three or services from other programs. The following should be included:
• What type of information you may need for your child’s transition or future placements.
• What type of support your child may need to succeed.
• Any other transition plans including transitions to programs such as Head Start, Title I Preschool Program, or a child care setting.

Remember, the transition plan is a guide intended to help make the transition easier for you and your child.

What Options Should You Consider if Your Child is Not Eligible for the LEA Preschool Program?

You and your CSC will convene a transition planning meeting and make reasonable efforts to contact providers of other appropriate services and develop a transition plan to assist you. Options might be:

• Head Start
• Community preschools and child care centers
• Community recreation programs
• Library story hours
• Mom's morning out programs
• Cooperative play groups
• Staying at home
• Child Service Coordination Program (Health Department)

Step 4

Meeting with the Preschool IEP Team (Preschool Program) to Determine Eligibility

• After all the evaluations have been completed, you will be contacted to meet with the Preschool IEP team (of which you are a member). An official referral will be made and the team will decide if your child is eligible for services. Referral to placement in the Preschool Program services should not be more than 90 days.
• Sometimes the service providers think your child might be eligible for Preschool Program services, but after all the evaluations have been completed, your child does not qualify for these services. Then the Preschool IEP team will suggest other possible services for your child, as in Step 3.
• If your child is eligible for the Preschool Program, an IEP and placement decision may be made at this time, or an additional meeting may be scheduled. An IEP may be written 30 days before a child’s third birthday.

Who Will Attend the IEP Meeting?

You are an important member of the Preschool IEP team and should attend the IEP meeting. Other members who must attend are as follows:

• Your CSC or referring agency personnel or teacher or representative from the current service provider;
• An LEA representative who may be the supervisor of special education, preschool coordinator, the principal, or another designee, who is able to provide or supervise provision of special education and to commit financial resources;
• A teacher qualified to provide regular early childhood education (this may be the same person as the special education teacher if that teacher holds a birth to kindergarten license);
• A teacher qualified to provide special education;
• A person knowledgeable about evaluation results (may be the special education supervisor); and,
• Additional members whom you or the school believes necessary. This might include a teacher or therapist who is currently working with your child or who will be working with your child, a physician, a supportive friend, or other family members. The school must inform you about the other people who are invited to the meeting.

Tasks of the Meeting

• Giving and explaining your rights under the Preschool Program (which becomes effective on your child’s third birthday if your child qualifies);
• Determining eligibility, if this has not yet been completed (once your child becomes officially eligible for Preschool Program services, an IEP must be written within 30 days);
• Developing and signing the IEP to become effective on your child’s third birthday;
• Making placement decisions; and,
• Completing paperwork.

Writing the IEP

The Preschool IEP team will discuss and develop goals and objectives for your child. This team will decide what special education and related services are needed based upon the goals and objectives written on the IEP.

An IEP must be developed prior to placement in special education and must contain the following:

• Your child's present level of performance -- what your child is able to do and not able to do;
• Annual goals and benchmarks or short-term instructional objectives to meet the goals;
• The amount of special education, related services, and supplementary aids and services to be provided -- usually stated as a number of minutes per week;
• The extent to which your child will participate or not participate with non-disabled children in regular early childhood educational programs;
• Starting date and length of time the services will be offered;
• The method or procedures which will be used to measure (determine) if the objectives have been met and how you will be regularly informed of your child's progress; and,
• Documentation of who the IEP team members are.

Before the Meeting

Many parents find it helpful to keep a notebook of important records. Whatever you decide to keep in this notebook will help your child, you, and the preschool personnel at the IEP meeting. Such notebooks may include:

• Medical records that are important, including shot (immunization) record;
• Important documents like birth certificate, Medicaid card, Social Security number;
• Copies of previous evaluations and current IFSP under the Infant-Toddler Program; and
• Pictures of the child.

In addition to keeping a notebook for your child's records, you might consider doing the following before the IEP meeting:

• Review the education rights of your child and your rights as a parent or guardian;
• Write down what you see as your child's strengths and areas of difficulty;
• Make a short list of things you would like your child to be able to do now and throughout his or her life.

During the IEP Meeting

As the parent or guardian, you are a member of the Preschool IEP team. You have valuable information and advice to give. During the IEP meeting, feel free to:

• Speak up about what you believe should be in your child's IEP; and
• Ask questions about any part of the meeting or the IEP that is not clear to you.
• Discuss thoroughly the placement for your child and the special education and related services that will be provided; and,
• Request a copy of your child's IEP. (This will help you keep up with your child's progress as well as work with your child at home.)

After the IEP Meeting

It is important to continue the communication between you and the school after the IEP meeting.

• Ask what types of parent activities are available at your child's school;
• Talk with your child's teacher on a regular basis; and,
• Do not hesitate to contact the school with any questions you might have.

If you and the LEA cannot agree on what is needed for your child, then you can ask for an administrative review. The next step is mediation. If that does not settle the differences, you may proceed to a due process hearing. These procedures have been developed to protect the educational interests of your child. These procedures can help both you and the LEA work out a difference in opinion and come up with a solution. (See your copy of the Handbook on Parent’s Rights.)

Remember, a Due Process hearing is intended to be used as a last resort. Both you and the LEA can ask for a hearing when normal discussions and mediations cannot produce a solution.

Step 5
(May be done at the time the IEP is developed.)

Preschool Placement

• You will receive a written notice describing your child's special education placement and related services in addition to being a part of the Preschool IEP team.
• You will then be asked to sign a Consent for Placement before your child receives special education and related services from the LEA.
• You may receive another copy of the Handbook on Parent's Rights and the Notice for Placement. Make sure you have a current copy.
  

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