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IDEA 2004 & Early Childhood Transition

SPP/APR INFORMATION AND MATERIALS FROM RRFC PORTAL

The APR trend analyses done by NECTAC is now available for public review. See below for the links.

Summary of State Performance Plans for Indicator #8 (Transition) for Part C (prepared by NECTAC) (PDF)

Summary of State Performance Plans for Indicator #12 (Transition) for Part B (prepared by NECTAC) (PDF)

Resources gathered by NECTAC from states related to Laws/Regulations Regarding Interagency Coordination, State & Local Collaboration, Interagency Agreements and Interagency Coordinating Councils. (Website)

LATEST TRANSITION ALERTS

The 2007 Proposed Part C Rules and Transition - May 2007
Dates, locations, and times for the public hearings on the Proposed Rules for Part C of IDEA 2004

OSEP TOPIC BRIEFS

IDEA 2004 Public Input and Notices website, including topic briefs.

OSEP Policy Letter of Clarification Related Transition and IFSP (PDF)

IEP TEAM MEETING

Parents Can Invite Part C Personnel to IEP Meeting: [Part B, §614 (d)(1)(D)]
In developing the initial Individual Education Program (IEP) for a child who was previously receiving early intervention services through Part C, parents may request an invitation to the IEP meeting be sent to the Part C service coordinator or others from the Part C program to facilitate the transition process.

PRESCHOOL IEPS

IEP Team To Consider Child’s IFSP: [Part B, §614 (d)(2)(B)]
The IEP team shall consider the services and information contained in the child’s Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) from Part C, and may use the IFSP as the child’s IEP if appropriate.

TRANSITION PLANNING TIMEFRAME

Early Conference Option: [Part C, §637, (a)(9)(A)(ii)(II)]
With parents’ consent, the lead agency may initiate a transition planning conference as early as nine months before a child’s third birthday. Previous regulations set the earliest possible transition planning conference at six months before the child’s third birthday.

EI TO AGE 5

Part C Services: [Part C, §635 (c)(1)]
If states choose to participate, new provisions make it possible for states to develop a policy in which parents of young children with disabilities may opt for their children to continue receiving early intervention services under Part C until they are eligible to enter kindergarten or elementary school, rather than attending preschool under section 619. Programs that provide early intervention services to children older than three years of age are required to “include an educational component that promotes school readiness and incorporates pre-literacy, language, and numeracy skills” [Part C, §635 (c)(2)(B)]. It is also required that parents receive notification of their rights in choosing between early intervention services and preschool programs [Part C, §635 (c)(2)(A)].

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE): [Part C, §635 (c)(5)(A) and(B)]
The state’s Part B program is not required to provide FAPE to children whose parents opt to receive early intervention services under Part C rather than preschool special education services.

IFSPS AND STATEWIDE SYSTEMS

IFSPs must include:

A description of the appropriate transition services
A statement of measurable results or outcomes, including pre-literacy and language skills, as developmentally appropriate
Services that are based on peer-reviewed research, to the extent practicable.

The application must include:

Certification to the secretary that establishes financial responsibility for the provision of services
Description of referral policies regarding children involved in substantial cases of abuse or neglect or who are affected by illegal substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure.
A policy that transition meetings take place for children potentially eligible under Part B, with approval of the family, no later than 90 days and no earlier than nine months before the child's third birthday, and that transition plans for all children include, as appropriate, steps to exit from the program.
A description of the efforts to promote collaboration with Head Start, child care, and early education programs.

SICC and FICC

Requires that the state interagency coordinating council (SICC) have a representative from:

A state Medicaid agency
The office of the coordinator of education of homeless children and youths.
A state foster care agency.
A mental health agency responsible for children's mental health

The authority for the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council (FICC) has been eliminated.

POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS

Transition Regulations and IDEA 2004 (PDF)
Current IDEA Regulations Related to Early Childhood Transition (PDF)

The National Early Childhood Transition Center is supported through a cooperative agreement, PR Award # H324V020003, through the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. However, the contents of this site do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the Office of Special Education or the US Department of Education, and readers should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

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