Transition to Preschool from Early Intervention

Introduction

Kids grow fast, don’t they? And early intervention is designed for children from birth up to age three. At that point, services under EI end. If the child will need continued support once he or she moves on to preschool, it’s very important for parents to plan ahead so that the transition is smooth. The resources below will help you assist parents who may be in this situation.  

Out of EI and into preschool: What’s it all about?
Here’s a decent explanation, including why it’s important to plan for this transition; the benefits to children, families, and teachers of such planning; and the chief differences between the EI system and preschool service system in terms of child find, referral, evaluation, eligibility, family involvement, the type of plan that’s written and the services that are delivered.
www.handsandvoices.org/articles/education/law/transition.html

Video: Foundations of Transition for Young Children. 
This 8-minute video from Project CONNECT gives an overview of the desirable outcomes of transition, research identifying effective transition practices, as well as the legal requirements of early childhood transition.
https://community.fpg.unc.edu/connect-modules/learners/module-2

Who’s in charge of preschool services, and what are they doing?
Find out in this annual publication of the ECTA Center, which contains information on state policies, programs, and practices under the Preschool Grants Program (Section 619 of Part B) of IDEA.
https://ectacenter.org/sec619/sec619.asp

Transition from early intervention services (IFSP) to preschool services (IEP).
From PEAK Parent Center.
https://www.peakparent.org/blog/transition-early-intervention-services-ifsp-preschool-services-iep

Be sure to see what’s available at ECTA.
https://ectacenter.org/topics/transition/transition.asp

Recommended transition-to-preschool practices.
This paper from CLAS examines current transition practices within the context of culturally and linguistically diverse groups, highlighting the transition from early intervention services to preschool services. An overview of recommended practice indicators in EI/ECSE and ECE is presented.
https://www.clas.uiuc.edu/techreport/tech4.html

Have you visited the center that looked only at what makes for effective transitions?
The National Early Childhood Transition Center (NECTC) investigate and validate practices and strategies that enhance the early childhood transition process and support positive school outcomes for children with disabilities. Search NECTC’s transition literature database.
https://www.hdi.uky.edu/nectc/NECTC/Home.aspx

Video | Transition to preschool for children who are blind or visually impaired.
From the Perkins School for the Blind, here’s a video that explains the transition process (runtime: 21 minutes).
https://www.perkinselearning.org/videos/webcast/transitioning-from-early-intervention-to-preschool

From the Department of Defense Education Activity.
https://www.dodea.edu/Curriculum/specialEduc/upload/MAX-268_EarlyInt_12-11.pdf

Special education services for preschoolers with disabilities.
This page discusses what services are available for preschoolers who are experiencing developmental delays. Learn more about where families, childcare providers, and educators find help and support.
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/preschoolers/

Center for Parent Information and Resources