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Indicator 12: Transition from Early Intervention to Preschool

 

Indicator 12: Transition from Part C to Part B - The percentage of children referred by the IDEA Part C (early intervention) who are found eligible for Part B (preschool), and who have an IEP implemented by the third birthday. 

 

Whitehall City Schools is part of the Franklin County Interagency Agreement and follows the process below:  

 

 Franklin County Interagency Agreement

2024-2026

Bexley City Schools

Canal Winchester City Schools

Columbus City Schools

Dublin City Schools

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools

Grandview Heights City Schools

Groveport Madison City Schools

Hilliard City Schools

Licking Heights Local Schools

New Albany-Plain Local Schools

Pickerington Local Schools

Reynoldsburg City Schools

South-Western City Schools

Upper Arlington City Schools

Westerville City Schools

Whitehall City Schools

Worthington City Schools

Franklin County Board of DD

Franklin County Early Intervention

Child Development Council of Franklin County - Head Start

The Ohio State University - Head Start

YMCA- Head Start

Educational Service Center of Central Ohio

 

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this agreement is to ensure continued support and provision of appropriate services to children and families as they transition out of Help Me Grow/Part C/Early Intervention services to LEAs or other programs. We are committed to providing high quality services, implementing a family friendly transition process, and promoting collaborative partnerships. This transition plan was developed jointly by representatives of Franklin County Local Education Agencies (LEAs), Franklin County Family & Children First Council, Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DD), and Franklin County Head Start programs.

Duration of Agreement

This Interagency Agreement will be in effect when all participants’ signatures are secured and will remain in effect for the next two years. At that time, the IAA team will review the agreement and update it as needed to reflect any changes within the various agencies of Franklin County, in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

Overview Of Transition From Part C to Part B

The transition from Part C to Part B services in the state of Ohio involves a variety of stakeholders who play important roles in ensuring that children with disabilities receive appropriate and timely services. The purpose of these stakeholders is to support and facilitate the smooth transition of young children with disabilities from the early intervention services provided under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to the special education services provided under Part B of IDEA. 

Here are some of the key stakeholders and their roles in this process:

 Parents and families: Parents and families are essential stakeholders in the transition process. They are responsible for providing consent for their child to receive services and play an important role in advocating for their child's needs.

Early Intervention (Part C): Provides Service Coordination,  Early intervention providers, Franklin County Board of Developmental Delays, are responsible for providing services to children birth to three years of age who have developmental delays or disabilities. They are required to work with families to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) that outlines the child's strengths and needs and identifies the services and supports that will be provided to the child and family.

Local Education Agencies (LEAs): LEAs are responsible for providing special education and related services to children with disabilities who are eligible under Part B of IDEA. They work collaboratively with families and other service providers to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that outlines the child's educational goals, objectives, and services.

The Franklin County Board is the local entity responsible for providing special education services to eligible students under Part B of IDEA. The role of the county board in the transition from Part C to Part B may include:

●   Collaborating with Part C providers, families, and other stakeholders to plan and implement the transition process.

●   Conducting evaluations and assessments to determine eligibility for Part B services.

●   Developing the child's IEP and ensuring that it is implemented in accordance with IDEA.

●   Providing appropriate special education and related services to meet the child's individual needs.

●   Monitoring the child's progress and making adjustments to the IEP as needed.

Head Start is a federally-funded program that provides comprehensive early childhood education and support services to children from low-income families. Many children who receive Part C services are also eligible for Head Start, and the two programs can work together to support the transition process. The role of Head Start in the transition from Part C to Part B may include:

●   Supporting families in understanding the transition process and their rights under IDEA.

●   Sharing information about the child's development, strengths, and needs with the Part B provider.

●   Collaborating with Part B providers to ensure continuity of services and supports.

●   Supporting families in identifying and accessing additional resources and services as needed.

Other stakeholders: Other stakeholders may include health care providers, community organizations, and advocacy groups. These stakeholders play an important role in supporting families and children with disabilities and may provide additional resources and support during the transition process.

 Child Find

Local School Districts (LEA), Family Children & First Council, County Board of DD, and Head Start share responsibilities for child find, including locating, evaluating, and identifying children with disabilities birth through age five.

 



 

Preparation for Transition Planning Conference (270 to 90 Day Period) 

When

Who

What

Forms

Continuous

Early Intervention

Hold screenings for children birth - 3

 

Continuous

Head Start

Has a referral process for preschool children

 

Continuous

Head Start

Share responsibilities at an annual community screening

 

Continuous

Head Start

Notice of screenings to inform families

 

Continuous

Early Intervention

Agency will provide birth date and contact information of transitioning Part C children by Early Childhood Coordinator to LEA (Local School District)

 

Continuous, Quarterly

Early Intervention

Will plan to contact each LEA to review current quarterly LEA Report

●     LEA quarterly Report

Quarterly

LEA

Contact the Part C representative for those children on the Quarterly LEA Report for whom there was no invitation to the Transition Planning Conference. 

●     Quarterly LEA Report will be reviewed at quarterly meetings to assure 100% compliance

LEA quarterly Report

 

 

When

Who

What

Forms

Continuous

Early Intervention Service Coordinator (EISC)

Prepares and guides the family through the transition process- Whom if anyone does the family want to share records with?

EI-06

Per EI rule 5123-10-02(L) (2) (b)

 

270 to 90 days before child’s 3rd birthday.

 

Typically 120-90 days prior to child’s 3rd birthday

EISC

Will discuss transition with family during an IFSP meeting which will include:

 Identifying participants by providing families with preschool options

Obtaining written permission for the release of specific information related to the child’s disability, which may include the current IFSP, most recent Part C Early Intervention Eligibility report, additional assessments and provider reports to the LEA or other identified program.

Coordinate with the family, providers and LEA a Transition Planning Conference (TPC).

Every effort will be made to ensure that both the LEA and the Early Intervention Representative are in attendance for the Transition Planning Conference (TPC). Their participation is critical to fostering collaboration and ensuring a smooth transition process that aligns with the needs of the child and family, as well as state and federal guidelines.

Send out invitations prior to the transition planning conference to the family, LEA, service delivery personnel, Head Start, and others as warranted at a mutually agreed upon time. Include the following when the IFSP/TPC invite is sent

-          Current IFSP

-          Most recent evaluation/assessment

-          Provider progress reports

-          EI-06, 07 and 13

-          Suspected Disability Form (An FCBDD form)


 

EI-06 and EI-07

 

EI-13
 

Early Intervention Service Coordinator

 

 

LEA

Districts are invited to the conference if the family agrees to the district’s participation.  Early Intervention Service Coordinator will provide the LEA with an IFSP/TPC invitation prior to the mutually agreed upon meeting date.

 

Districts should maintain written records of the date of IFSP/TPC (EI-13). 

 

The PR-04 is not always signed at the TPC meeting but will be completed and signed as appropriate during the referral process. The decision can be made by the LEA to sign the PR-04 at the TPC meeting if the team feels it is necessary to complete it at that time

EI-13

 

 

 

PR-04- LEA Referral For Evaluation form



 

Transition Planning Conference (TPC/Referral)

When

Who

What

Forms

150 days-45 days

LEA

Districts should maintain written records of the date of notification.

 

Under IDEA, the district is required to attend the

conference. If the district does not attend the

conference, the family and the service coordinator will meet to address Part C requirements. If the service coordinator has sent a notice of the meeting to the district, there is no further obligation for Part C to convene again for the district. If the district does not attend, referral has been made as of the conference date and timelines are in effect.

 

Education/Special Education Procedural Safeguards

and is provided with information about parental

consent for the evaluation process. LEA must obtain

parental consent within 30 days of the TPC meeting.To ensure a seamless process, the LEA and the Early Intervention Representative will, whenever possible, initiate the referral and complete the TPC on the same day. However, in some instances, the referral may be made prior to the TPC. Both agencies will work collaboratively to ensure adherence to state and federal guidelines, striving to meet their respective timelines throughout the referral and evaluation process.

If a disability is not suspected, the LEA provides the parent with a PR-01 and A Guide to Parent’s Rights in Special Education/Special Education Procedural Safeguards within 30 days of referral date.

Education/Special Education Procedural Safeguards are provided along with information about parental consent for the evaluation process. The LEA must obtain parental consent within 30 days of the referral date.

If a disability is not suspected, the LEA provides the parent with a PR-01 and A Guide to Parent’s Rights in Special Education/Special Education Procedural Safeguards within 30 days of the referral date.

PR-04

TPC optional form

Procedural Safeguards

Per EI rule 5123-10-02(L) (2) (b)

 270 to 90 days before child’s 3rd birthday.

 

 

Typically 120-90 days prior to child’s 3rd birthday







 

Early Intervention Service Coordinator/LEA

 

Early Intervention Service Coordinator/LEA

 

Early Intervention Service Coordinator/LEA

 

Early Intervention Service Coordinator/LEA

Under IDEA, the district is required to attend the conference.  If the district does not attend the conference, the family and the service coordinator will meet to address Part C requirements.  If the service coordinator has sent a notice of the meeting to the district, there is no further obligation for Part C to convene again for the district. If the district does not attend, referral has been made as of the conference date and timelines are in effect.

The conference is required to be at least 90 days before the child’s third birthday and can be held up to 9 months before the third birthday.

If a family has moved since the TPC and the conference included a previous district and not in the district in which the child is currently enrolled, the current district does not report the TPC.

 EISC will notify the previous LEA that the child has moved.  Meet with the family - sign EI-06 for current LEA, review EI-07 to ensure the family still wants assistance with transition to the current LEA, contact current LEA

During the IFSP/TPC meeting, The EISC facilitates the IFSP review and data from the child’s participation in Part C of Early Intervention and information from the family is discussed.  The LEA shares information about the Part B Eligibility Process.  The team determines if there is or is not sufficient information to suspect a disability. 

 If there is a suspected disability, the LEA provides the parent with A Guide to Parent’s Rights in Special Education/Special Education Procedural Safeguards and is provided with information about parental consent for the evaluation process.  LEA must obtain parental consent within 30 days.

 

If a disability is suspected the LEA will complete a PR-05

 









 

EI-06




 

EI-04





 

A Guide to Parent’s Rights in Special Education/Special Education Procedural Safeguards

 

PR-05


 

45 days or less before 3rd birthday

Early Intervention Team



 

Statewide Central Intake

Early Intervention services will continue throughout the transition process as written on the family’s Individualized Family Service Plan.

Any child referred to Early Intervention 45 days or less before his/her 3rd birthday will be referred directly to the LEA or other community programs as appropriate.

For a child referred with a suspected disability a referral will be made directly to the LEA. They are not required to have an IEP by their 3rd birthday.  All other applicable timelines must be met, such as but not limited to the 60-day timeline for eligibility evaluation for a child suspected of having a disability.

 For a child referred without a suspected disability a referral will be made directly to Head Start, LEA, child care or other community programs of interest to the parent.

EI-04



 

EI-08

46-90 days before his/her 3rd birthday

Early Intervention Service Coordinator

Any child suspected of having a disability referred to Early Intervention 46-90 days before his/her 3rd birthday will be assigned an Early Intervention Service Coordinator, who will begin transition planning.  Early Intervention will work with the LEA to conduct an evaluation for eligibility and write an IFSP to reflect transition planning.

EI-06

Birthday outside of LEA school calendar

LEA

If the child has a birthday outside of the LEA school calendar, the LEA will have staff available to conduct evaluations during the summer.

  

Within 30 days of referral from the Early Intervention Service Coordinator

LEA

If no suspected disability, Early Intervention Service Coordinator will continue with transition involving other agencies as needed.  The LEA will provide the parent with prior written notice (PR-01) from the district.

PR-01

 

Evaluation Team Report (ETR) Process 

When

Who

What

Forms

Within 30 days of referral

Preschool Psychologist or LEA representative

Coordinate the evaluation process and distribute ETR Planning Form to all professionals involved.

ETR planning form

Within 30 days of referral

Early Intervention Team

Will provide the Part C Data Form which is a summary document based on observation and most recent programming data, assessment and present level of performance per ETR planning form

Part C Data Form

Within 60 days from time of parental consent

LEA

ETR team meeting will be held to determine eligibility.  This will occur no longer than 60 days from the date of parental consent.

ETR

Within 30 days of the ETR/120 days of referral/ or 90 days of signed parental consent

LEA

LEA ensures invitations are sent out to all appropriate parties (including Early Intervention when requested by the parent) for the IEP meeting

PR 02



 

IEP Development

 

When

Who

What

Forms

Within 30 days of the ETR

OR

Within 120 days of referral

OR

 Within 90 days of signed parental consent

AND

Implemented by the child’s third birthday

LEA

 

Early Intervention Service Coordinator

Any child enrolled in Early Intervention and found eligible for special education services, will have an initial Individualized Education Program (IEP) completed and implemented on or before the child’s third birthday.

The school district will host the initial IEP meeting with parents. Parents may request for Early Intervention to attend the meeting.

The IEP team will develop goals and objectives to support the child’s needs including related services (speech, ot, or pt) if applicable. The IEP team will also determine the child’s least restrictive environment (LRE) in which services will be delivered. (i.e. public preschool - general education classroom or nonpublic school preschool program, public preschool special education class, special school, or home or service provider location)

 

The IEP will be reviewed annually thereafter, as long  as the child remains eligible as a preschooler with a disability.

  

IEP and supporting documents 

Outside of the LEA school calendar

LEA

If the child has a birthday outside of the LEA school calendar, Extended School Year (ESY) services may be initiated based upon the Early Intervention data and the need for continuity of services to ensure the child maintains his/her present level of performance. If ESY is unnecessary (as determined through the IEP process), IEP services begin no later than the start of the district’s calendar school year.

IEP



 

Head Start Collaboration

Head Start and Early Head Start may partner with each LEA to recruit, enroll, and service students within the public school district. Each LEA and Head Start will form their own process and Memorandum of Understanding to create a successful partnership.