Transition from Early Intervention (Part C) to Early Childhood Special Education (Part B)
Smooth transitions from Early Intervention to Early Childhood Special Education are important. Families, children, sending and receiving programs all need to share information and support each other. Transition activities need to be timely to assure access to appropriate services for the child. The transition should also be smooth and seamless between programs, people and services. In the case of a child who previously received Early Intervention, the local educational agency is required, at the parent’s(s’) request, to invite the Early Intervention service coordinator or other representatives of the Early Intervention system to the initial Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting to assist with the smooth transition of services.
Learn more about Early Intervention in Virginia through the Infant & Toddler Connection program
.
Federal and state requirements guide the provision of Early Intervention Services in Virginia. For more information, visit the links below:
- Early Intervention Administration – Information on the federal and state regulatory requirements of Early Intervention in Virginia.
- Early Intervention Practice Manual and Forms – Technical assistance documents, policy pages, forms and other resources for implementation of Early Intervention in Virginia.
- Transition Agreement between the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Education (Word) – This document is the Transition Agreement section in the Virginia Interagency Memorandum of Agreement among the Agencies involved in Implementation of Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The MoA was signed in May 2013.
Information related to the federal and state requirements for the transition from Early Intervention to Early Childhood Special Education are provided below:
- Getting from Here to There: Navigating the Transition from Part C to Part B - Part I – In this webinar, state staff from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and VDOE jointly review transition requirements from both the Part C and Part B perspectives.
- Getting from Here to There: Navigating the Transition from Part C to Part B - Part II – In this webinar, staff from local early intervention systems and local school divisions lead a discussion about effective transition planning, communication and collaboration at the local level.
- Indicator 12: Part C to Part B Transition Technical Assistance Document-This is a Word document. (Word) – This document provides technical assistance related to the transition from Part C to Part B and includes essential regulations as well as information regarding reporting Indicator 12.
- Transition from Early Intervention to Preschool Q&A-This is a Word document. (Word) – This document provides answers to frequently asked questions related to the transition from Part C to Part B.
- Transition from Part C (Early Intervention) to Part B (Early Childhood Special Education): Regulated versus Local Determination-This is a Word document. – This document provides a list of negotiable and nonnegotiable components related to the transition from Part C to Part B.
- Referral from Part C to Part B Flowchart – This document provides a visual representation of the process for referral from Part C to Part B and the eligibility process for Part B services.
- Working Together: A Framework for EffectiveTransitions from Part C to Part B Webinar, Infant & Toddler Connection of VA and the VA Department of Education -
This webinar is designed to facilitate a work session between Part C and Part B for the purpose of 1) enhancing a collaborative working relationship, 2) implementing strategies and processes to support a successful transition for families and children, and 3) updating and maintaining local interagency agreements. The webinar is intended to be viewed jointly with participants from the Part C and Part B systems. A presentation guide accompanies the webinar to guide discussion, document responses, and use as a reference for editing interagency agreements.
There are professional development resources related to the transition from Early Intervention to Early Childhood Special Education provided below:
- Virginia's Leadership in Effective and Developmentally Appropriate Services in ECSE
- CONNECT, The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge, Online Module – Transition from Early Intervention to Preschool
- Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center, Transition from Early Intervention to Preschool Resources