Resources

An Overview of the Early Childhood Transition Process

Frequently Asked Questions

Who will be at the Transition Conference?

Transition Conference participants include:

  • Your family and other persons requested by your family
  • Your ESS Service Coordinator and other service providers as appropriate
  • And may include the Local Education Agency (LEA)/school district representative

    • What happens if the school district representative doesn’t come to the Transition Conference?

    The law requires that ESS invite a school district representative to the Transition Conference and school districts are required by their own regulations to participate in it. Every effort is made by your ESS Service Coordinator to find a mutually agreeable time for you and the school district representative when scheduling the Transition Conference. However, if a mutually agreeable time cannot be found, the Transition Conference must be held not less than 90 days before your child turns 3 regardless of whether the school district representative can attend.

    How does the IFSP Team determine if my child is "potentially eligible"?

    In making the determination that a child is potentially eligible for special education, the IFSP Team should discuss the following questions:
  • Does your child have a perceived delay/concern/issue in any of the 5 domains (Physical, Cognitive, Social/ Emotional, Communication, and Adaptive)?
  • Does your child’s delay/concern/issue impact education and functional performance (how your child shows skills and behaviors)?
  • Does your child require specialized instruction?
  • Does your child’s delay/concern/issue impact their ability to access the curriculum/participate in typical preschool activities?
  • Is your child not meeting developmental milestones?
  • Are your child’s current gains in performance a result of services?
  • Is your child at risk without continued services?
  • Does your child have emergent skills (newly developing skills and activities)?

    • What if the IFSP Team is unsure if my child is potentially eligible?

    If your IFSP Team is unsure about whether your child is potentially eligible, the IFSP Team, with your permission, should make a referral to special education.  As a parent you have the right to refer to special education at any time or to choose not to refer to special education. 

    ESS - The Transition Conference

    A Transition Conference with the school district and other agencies as appropriate is a meeting that is coordinated and facilitated by your ESS Service Coordinator. By law, ESS is required to hold the Transition Conference not more than 9 months before but not less than 90 days before your child turns 3.

    The purpose of the Transition Conference is to:

    • Identify any transition services needed by your child and family;
    • Establish steps for your child and family to exit from ESS services; and
    • Review your child’s program options for the period from his or her third birthday through the remainder of the school year.
    • Update your child’s Transition Plan in the IFSP

    At the Transition Conference, the IFSP Team will also determine whether your child is potentially eligible for preschool special education and discuss making a referral for preschool special education to your local school district.

    What does it mean if my child is determined "potentially eligible" for special education?

    What if my child is not determined "potentially eligible"?