10 Tips to Smooth the Kindergarten IEP Transition

Making the move from preschool to kindergarten can be exciting. But this time of change can also be challenging, and the IEP transition meeting is an important, sometimes nerve-wracking, part of the process. Here are 10 tips to help you plan and prepare for a successful preschool to kindergarten IEP transition meeting.

1. Request your transition meeting early

The transition process might take longer than you anticipate. If you think there might be a placement issue, work with your school district to schedule your child’s transition IEP meeting for March or April rather than June so that you have plenty of time to resolve any disagreements.

2. Be prepared for a lengthy meeting

Dr. Sarah Pelangka (BCBA-D), a special education advocate and owner of KnowIEPs, notes that the longest transition IEP meeting across the K-12 experience will be when a child moves from preschool to kindergarten. Pelangka recommends requesting your triennial IEP meeting just before the transition because there’s so much to discuss.

3. Focus on your child’s strengths

A strength-based IEP can make all the difference in helping the IEP team determine which goals and accommodations will best support your child in achieving what they are capable of. In advance of your meeting, consider creating a vision statement for your child that clearly describes their strengths.

4. Retain all accommodations and services from your child’s preschool IEP

No matter how well you vet a new school, you won’t have a full understanding of the supports your child might need until they attend. Until the transition actually happens, do not give up any services (e.g., OT, speech therapy) or accommodations from your child’s preschool IEP, even if the school feels that your child doesn’t need them. If services or accommodations are truly no longer needed, they can be removed once the transition is complete.

5. Ask how services will be applied

As you discuss inclusion of services, ask how the services will be applied. For example, some pull-out services could and should be considered for push-in instead (i.e., administered within the classroom as opposed to in a private or resource room).

6. Retain successful processes and strategies from your child’s preschool IEP

If there are behavioral strategies or processes that worked well for your child in preschool, be sure to include them in the kindergarten IEP. This can include anything from safeguards against elopement to something more granular, such as five-minute warnings before transitions happen. These notes can be included under the IEP’s parental notes or concerns section, and will help establish a recognized continuity for your child that will help them be more comfortable and successful in the transition.

7. Establish the most optimal setting, advocating for gradual transition if needed

What type of kindergarten classroom is going to achieve the least restrictive, most appropriate environment for your child? Should that environment be worked up to, rather than jumped into? Kindergarten is often the first opportunity to gain access to GenEd or inclusion, which can be a challenge to advocate for. For example, if your child is not fully toilet-trained, that should not exclude them from a GenEd setting. If there are other medical issues or concerns about their ability to sustain a longer day with higher demands (e.g., more rules, more classmates, longer days, no naps), some districts might allow the child to start the first few weeks with half days. If your child struggles upon transition, or you know they will probably exhibit behaviors, don’t be afraid to request a functional behavior analysis (FBA) within the first few weeks of school. This allows you to assess possible reasons behind the behaviors and to add supports rather than being pushed to a Special Day Class (SDC).

8. Bring support

Consider hiring an advocate if inclusion is an important element for you and you’re not sure how best to integrate it into the IEP. If that’s not an option, bring along the preschool provider and/or any other outside service providers, such as in-home ABA therapists. Their input is always beneficial, and gives you another set of ears in the room and an additional advocate for your child.

9. Record the meeting

It’s always a good idea to record your IEP meeting, transition or otherwise. Note that you must inform the school 24 hours in advance of your intent to record the meeting, and it is ideal to send your written questions and concerns (and vision statement, if you prepared one) to the IEP team a few days prior to the meeting. You’ll be more likely to receive thorough, honest, and detailed answers when team members have had the opportunity to prepare.

10. Remember that you can call an IEP meeting any time

You may feel stressed about getting the transition meeting “perfect.” To reduce that pressure, keep in mind that anything that isn’t working can always be changed. You have the right to call an IEP meeting at any time, no matter the transition stage of your child.

For more on IEPs and transitions, check out the resources below. We also recommend you download our free IEP prep packet, which will help you prepare for your IEP meeting and advocate for your child with confidence.