Transition from PSEI to Kindergarten or First Grade

November 17, 2011

Act 212 of 1990Early Intervention Systems Act

Established early intervention services in Pennsylvania for eligible children age three to the “age of beginners”

Mandated services beginning in the Fiscal Year (FY) 1991-92

20 U.S.C. §1419 requires:• Transition without interruption in program, and

• Transition with appropriate procedural protections

Transition Announcement: EI-09 #19 (OCDEL)•Transition of Preschool Children to School Age Programs

•Issue Date: October 20, 2009•4 Attachments

Basic Education Circular(BEC) PDE•Date of Review: October 19, 2009

Goal of PDE and OCDEL

Smooth transition to School District of Residence or Local Charter School while respecting parental choices

Developed standardized procedures and forms to be used by the PSEI programs and school districts or charter schools throughout the transition process

Transition Process

By February 1st of each year - PSEI programs must identify children who are approaching age for K or 1st grade in the their SD of residence.

Notify parents of the transition to school age process by sending the “Notice of Your Child’s Transition to School Age Meeting” form

Transition Meeting Notice Includes information for parents on:•The transition to school age meeting

•The option to register child in a kindergarten program or remain in PSEI for another year

•The fact that their child ceases to be eligible for PSEI services when he/she reaches the age for first grade

Transition Process

The PSEI records of child who are no longer eligible for special education services cannot be shared with SDs or charter schools without parental consent [§301(14) of Act 212 of 1990]

The Transition Meeting PS/EI program must convene transition meeting by the end of February for all children approaching age for K or 1st grade

If IEP Team has already decided child remaining in EI - parents and PSEI program can agree Transition meeting not necessary

The Transition Meeting

Parents uncertain or have decided their child is moving on to K or 1st grade•A transition meeting must be held and a representative of the school district of residence or charter school must participate

The Transition Meeting

The Transition meeting not necessarily IEP meeting but may serve as such if necessary participants are present

The Transition Meeting Must provide appropriate Intent to Register form • Kindergarten form• 1st Grade form

This form enables parents to indicate whether they intend to register their child in the SD or charter school

The Transition Meeting

PS/EI program reviews choices on the Intent to Register form with parents

SD or charter school responsibilities for the transition process for the new school year commence with receipt of Intent to Register form

Reevaluations and IEPs If parents intend to register with the SD or charter school, the Notice of Options for Your Child’s Transition is reviewed with the parents by the school district team or the charter school team

Within a reasonable period of time from receipt of the Intent to Register form but no later than April 15th, the SD or charter school will notify the parent in writing and initiate one of the options.

Options Considered for Child’s Transition

Remain in Early Intervention PSEI IEP Team must: •Fully inform parents of advantages of transitioning to school age program with same age peers

•Evaluation/reevaluation must reflect an additional year of Early Intervention at the request of the family

Adopt PSEI IEP

Parents & SD or charter school agree to adopt and implement the PSEI IEP for the next school year

School District or charter school issues a school age NOREP indicating this recommendation

Adopt PSEI IEP with Revisions Parents & SD or charter school agree to adopt the PSEI IEP with revisions

Discuss revisions

SD or charter school issues revised IEP and NOREP indicating this recommendation

Reevaluation - Review Data Decision of Parents & SD or charter school

May conduct a reevaluation consisting of review of existing data & information prior to IEP meeting

Permission to Reevaluate-Consent Form is NOT required

Reevaluation - Review Data Within a reasonable amount of time - SD or charter school notifies parent in writing that a reevaluation consisting of a review of data will be conducted (may use locally developed letter)

If the team plans to meet to discuss data & information - the Invitation to Participate in the IEP Team Meeting or Other Meeting Notice may be used

Reevaluation - Additional Data IEP team determines additional data are needed

SD or charter school issues Permission to Reevaluate – Consent Form

Reevaluation Report to parent within 60 calendar days

IEP meeting held within 30 calendar days of the RR

SD or charter school issues new IEP & NOREP

Waiving the Reevaluation NOT part of a reevaluation process

Recommended by the SD or charter school - NOT an IEP team decision

Parent must be in agreement with determination to waive reevaluation

Parents’ signature is required on the Agreement to Waive Reevaluation form

Timelines

Within a reasonable period of time but no later than April 15th - SD or charter school must notify parents in writing & initiate one of the options

Regardless of option - an IEP will be implemented no later than 10 school days after its completion

Court Case

Jacob M. requires that special education services cannot be interrupted when children transition from PSEI to school

Developmental Delay

A child in PSEI with a primary disability of Developmental Delay must be reevaluated to determine if the child has a school age eligible disability

Prior to a child receiving school age special education the child must be determined eligible by one of the school age disability categories.

Initial Evaluation

When a child with a primary disability of Development Delay transitions into a school age program with no evaluation and an evaluation occurs in the school-age program it is considered an Initial Evaluation

Reevaluation

For all disability categories except Developmental Delay, a child who transitions into K without an evaluation, the first evaluation in the school-age program would be considered a Reevaluation unless the child was exited from the PSEI program via a NOREP/PWN

Additional Information

Contact Barb Rothermel724-938-3241 ext 278

Marnie Sanner724-437-9525 or ext 721