Policy

Reference/Related Documents

7.1.1 Transition planning must occur when a child transitions out of a LES for any reason.

Operations Guide 7.1.1

7.1.2 An individualized IFSP transition plan must be completed for all children to assist with exiting Early Steps at age three.

Policy Handbook 5.3.10

Operations Guide 7.1.2

IDEA §636(d)(8)

IDEA §637(a)(9)(C)

34 CFR §303.23(b)(7)

7.1.3  In preparing for transition planning:

1. The LES will review the child’s options for the school year in which the child turns three, in collaboration with the Local Education Agency (LEA) and with the involvement of the family.
2. Families will be included in the development of the transition plan (Form I) for children transitioning from Early Steps to preschool, school, other appropriate services or exiting the program.

Operations Guide 7.1.3

IDEA §637(a)(9)(A)(i)

IDEA §637(a)(9)(B)

34 CFR §303.148(a)

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

7.2.1 At least nine months before the child’s third birthday or within 30 calendar days of the initial IFSP meeting for a child determined eligible after 27 months of age, the LES must provide notification to the local school district in which the child resides for child find purposes, unless the parent chooses to opt-out of notification.  Parental consent is not required for Early Steps to notify the LEA where the child resides and such notification will occur in the absence of an objection by the parent.

Operations Guide 7.2.1

IDEA §637(a)(9)(A)(ii)(I)

34 CFR §300.111(a)(1)(i)

7.2.2.  Notification must include the following information:

1. Child’s name
2. Child’s date of birth
3. Parent contact information, including parents’ names, addresses, and telephone numbers.

IDEA §637(a)(9)(A)(ii)(I)

34 CFR §300.111(a)(1)(i)

7.2.3.  For children who become eligible for Early Steps prior to their 2nd birthday, the LES will provide a copy of the Understanding Notification brochure to the family a reasonable time prior to the IFSP meeting or periodic review closest to the child’s 2nd birthday, ensuring that the brochure is provided prior to the date notification is required.

7.2.4 For children who become eligible for Early Steps after their 2nd birthday, the LES will provide a copy of the Understanding Notification brochure on the date the child is determined eligible for Early Steps.

7.2.5 LEA notification and the opt-out option will be discussed with the parents no later than the IFSP meeting or periodic review closest to the child’s 2nd birthday and, for children determined eligible for Early Steps after the child’s 2nd birthday, at the initial IFSP meeting.

No later than the initial IFSP meeting for children referred after age two or the IFSP periodic review closest to the child’s 2nd birthday for all other children, the parents will indicate orally at the meeting whether they choose to opt-out of LEA notification for their child.

Notification will be provided for children in inactive status per Policy Handbook 6.12.0 and parents of these children may not have the opportunity to opt out of LEA notification.  The last known address should be used when determining which school district to notify for children in inactive status.

Operations Guide 7.2.5

7.2.6  The LES will document in the child’s Early Steps record and in the LES data system:

1. The date the parent was informed of the intent to provide notification to the LEA.
2. Whether the parent chose to opt-out of notification.
3. The date notification was provided to the LEA.

Operations Guide 7.2.6

7.2.7 Reserved

7.2.8 The LES must obtain written parental consent to share any personally identifiable information beyond the notification information specified in Policy Handbook 7.2.2.

Policy Handbook 8.5.2

Policy Handbook 8.5.3

34 CFR §99

34 CFR §303.460(a)

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

7.3.1 In the case of a child who may be eligible for the school district Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities, the LES must, with approval of the family, convene a conference among the LES, the family, and the local school district not less than 90 days (and at the discretion of all such parties, not more than 9 months) before the child’s third birthday.

Policy Handbook 12.3.10

Operations Guide 7.3.1

IDEA §637(a)(9)(A)(ii)(II)

7.3.2

1. The following individuals must be present for the transition conference for a child potentially eligible for the school district Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities:
   1. Family
   2. Service coordinator or designee.
2. Local school district representative, with parent consent, must be invited.

Operations Guide 7.3.2

IDEA §637(a)(9)(A)(ii)(II)

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

7.4.1 In the case of a child who may not be eligible for the school district Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities, the LES must, with approval of the family, make reasonable efforts to convene a conference among the LES, the family, and providers of other appropriate services for the child not less than 90 days (and at the discretion of all such parties, not more than 9 months) before the child’s third birthday.

Policy Handbook 12.3.10

Operations Guide 7.4.1

IDEA §637(a)(9)(A)(ii)(III)

7.4.2

1. The following individuals must be present for the transition conference for a child not potentially eligible for the school district Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities:
   1. Family
   2. Service coordinator
2. Other potential service providers, with parental consent, must be invited.

Policy Handbook 4.2.6

Policy Handbook 4.2.10

Operations Guide 7.4.2

IDEA §637(a)(9)(A)(ii)(III)

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

7.5.1 With parental consent, the LES must refer all children who are potentially eligible for the school district Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities to the local school district, and document the referral in case notes and on the IFSP transition plan.

Policy Handbook 8.5.2

Operations Guide 7.5.1

IFSP Instructions Form I

Early Steps Case Note

Early Steps Case Note Instructions

7.5.2 The following information must be included with a referral to the school district Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities, with parental consent:

1. Current IFSP.
2. Evaluations and assessments completed within the past 6 months.
3. Any hearing and vision screening(s) completed within the past 6 months.
4. Copy of a written consent for release of information for the local school district.
5. Any additional information available in the Early Steps record required by the receiving agency and specified on a written consent for release of information form.

Policy Handbook 8.5.2

Policy Handbook 8.5.3

Operations Guide 7.5.2

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

7.6.1 With parental consent, the LES must refer all children not potentially eligible for the school district Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities to Head Start, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, early care and education programs or other community options as determined by the IFSP team, and document the referral in case notes and on the IFSP transition plan.

Policy Handbook 8.5.2

Operations Guide 7.6.1

IFSP Instructions Form I

Early Steps Case Note

Early Steps Case Note Instructions

7.6.2 The following information must be included with a referral to the early care and education program in preparation for transitioning at the age of three:

1. Copy of the written consent for release of information for the early care and education program.
2. Any information in the Early Steps record that is required by the receiving program and specified on the written consent for release of information form.

Policy Handbook 8.5.2

Policy Handbook 8.5.3

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

7.7.1 When the service coordinator or other LES representative is invited to the initial IEP meeting, he/she must make reasonable effort to participate in the meeting.

Operations Guide 7.7.1

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

7.8.1 Early Steps services must be terminated by the child’s third birthday. Appropriate uses of IDEA, Part C funds after a child's third birthday would be to:

1. Fund a service coordinator’s attendance at an initial IEP meeting for a child transitioning from IDEA, Part C to IDEA, Part B.
2. Pay for the administration of the exit evaluation for child outcome measurement.
3. Provide compensatory services after a child’s third birthday, because it has been determined, via one of the following means, that services have been delayed or interrupted due to some failure on the part of the LES or service provider.
   1. Hearing decision,
   2. State complaint decision,
   3. Mediation agreement, or
   4. Finding through other general supervision activities.

Policy Handbook 12.3.11

Operations Guide 7.8.1

7.8.2 LES must provide written prior notice to the family indicating termination of Early Steps services prior to closing a child to Early Steps.

Policy Handbook 8.5.2

Policy Handbook 8.5.3

Policy Handbook 12.3.11

IDEA §639(a)(6)

7.8.3 IDEA, Part C does not apply to any child with disabilities receiving a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in accordance with 34 CFR, Part 300.

Operations Guide 7.8.3

IDEA §619(h)

34 CFR §303.4