Transition

A Booklet to Guide Families

Through the Transition
Process from Early Steps
when Their Child Turns
Three
The FDOE, BEESS, through federal assistance under the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B, provided funding to
Florida’s Transition Project through the Technical Assistance and
Training System (TATS) Project for development of this publication.
 Table of Contents

Purpose.......................................................................................................... 1

Questions and Answers ............................................................................. 2

Programs that May Be Available in Your Community .......................... 9

Resources ................................................................................................. 15

Family Transition Checklist .................................................................... 16

Websites ................................................................................................... 17

Tips to Help with Transition ................................................................ 19

Books to Read to Your Child .............................................................. 20

Important Names and Numbers ........................................................ 21

Notes ........................................................................................................ 21
 Purpose
This booklet is designed to assist families who have young children
with disabilities and special needs move from one agency or
program to another. Moving from program to program is called
transition.

Families and agencies or programs working with families have

frequently asked Florida’s Transition Project staff for a booklet
that provides an overview of what takes place when a child turns
three years old and leaves Early Steps to attend other community
programs.

This booklet includes questions family members have asked about

transition. It also includes descriptions of many statewide programs
that may be available in your own community.

View Florida’s Transition Project information at

http://tats.ucf.edu/transition/ to download a copy of this
booklet and other resources.

1
 Questions and Answers

Q: Why does my child have to leave Early Steps

(transition) by his or her third birthday?

A: According to federal law — IDEA 2004, Part C — after age

36 months, your child is no longer eligible for Early Steps.
Your child may not qualify for the same services from the
school district that he or she received in Early Steps
because of different eligibility requirements; however, you
will be part of a team that makes decisions for your child.
Your child may be eligible for a school district
Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities
under IDEA, Part B, or for other early learning services in
your community.

Q: What are the steps in the transition process?

A: The following information will help you plan for your child’s
transition:
• Your service coordinator will discuss transition
throughout the time your child receives services with
Early Steps.

• Not fewer than 90 days prior to your child’s third

birthday, Early Steps must notify the Department of
Education and the school district Prekindergarten
Program for Children with Disabilities that your child is
potentially eligible for services. This information helps
the school district plan for services for your child;
however, you will have the option to opt-out of having
notification information shared at that time.

• Early Steps must hold a transition conference by the

time your child is two years and nine months of age if
your child is potentially eligible for school district
services. Early Steps will make a reasonable effort to
hold a transition conference if your child is not
potentially eligible for school district services.

2
Q: What role(s) can a family member play in the
transition process?

A: Family members may:

• Participate in scheduled meetings

• Make decisions about what you want for your child and
share it at the meeting

• Take your child to appointments for vision and hearing

screenings, developmental evaluations and physical
examinations

• Provide required documents for enrollment, such as

proof of residency, birth certificate, immunization record
and physical examination record

• Give written permission/consent for exchange of

information between agencies or programs

• Visit community programs you are considering for your

child

Q: What can I do to make sure the transition process is

working for my child?

A: You can ask questions such as:

• What is the next step in the process?

• Who will contact me after the transition conference?

• In addition, you can contact your service

coordinator or local Early Steps office if
a timeline isn’t being met.

3
Q: Who participates in the transition conference?

A: Required transition conference participants include you and

your service coordinator. The service coordinator is
required to invite the school district representative to the
conference, with your approval, if your child is potentially
eligible for the Prekindergarten Program for Children with
Disabilities. With your approval, other participants who
may be invited include representatives from the program
where your child is currently being served. You may also
ask your service coordinator to invite a representative
from the following agencies or programs:
• Early Steps service providers

• Head Start

• Community child care

• Children’s Medical Services

• Agency for Persons with

Disabilities

• Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System

(FDLRS)

• Other individuals or agency representatives of your

family’s choice (e.g., Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care
[PPEC])

4
Q: What happens at the transition conference?

A: At the transition conference, the Early Steps service

coordinator will facilitate discussion of:
• Services available from the local school district

• How and when evaluations and eligibility determination

will occur

• Other agencies and community providers

that may assist your child and family

• Existing child/family information

• Family concerns regarding transition

• Strategies to address identified concerns

• Activities that need to be completed before

your child moves into the new setting

• Persons involved in completing identified activities written

on the IFSP

• Timeframes for when each activity should be completed

• Need for scheduling visits to program sites

Q: What happens after the transition

conference?
A:
The activities written on the transition plan
(Form I of the IFSP) will be completed by the
individuals listed. For example, your service
coordinator may arrange for your family to visit a
program or school.

5
Q: What are some other questions I should ask as my
child transitions?

A: Once you know the program for which your child is

eligible, you might want to ask questions such as the
following:
• What kind of forms or paperwork will I need to
complete?

• What kind of educational plan will be written for my

child?

• If my child is eligible for any program, will my child and I

have an opportunity to visit the classroom, program or
school?

• How many teachers and aides will be in the classroom?

• How many children will be in the classroom?

• Will my child participate with children who do not have

a disability?

• How long is the school day or class, and what is the

daily routine of the program?

• In what way will accommodations (such as special

nutrition) be made to help my child learn?

• What kinds of skills will my child need to have to

participate?

6
Q: What program options do I have for my child after
his or her third birthday?

A: There may be many programs in your

community that can meet your child’s needs,
such as:
• Public and private child care centers/preschools or a
variety of school readiness settings

• Family child care homes

• A school district Prekindergarten Program for Children

with Disabilities

• Other programs available in your community

These programs may include new policies, procedures and

rules for both your child and your family. They may also
involve differences in eligibility. For instance, your child
may not qualify for the same services from the school
district that he or she received in Early Steps because of
different eligibility requirements or ways of providing special
education and related services.

In addition, there may be different staff, schedules and

expectations for both you and your child. Finding out about
these differences in advance and asking questions about how
they will affect your child and family will help you and your
child with your transition experience.

7
Q: What is the process for accessing school district
Prekindergarten Program for Children with
Disabilities services?

A: The school district process is as follows:

• Your child is evaluated to determine if he or she is
eligible.

• You will be invited to attend a meeting to review

evaluation information.

• For eligible children, an individual educational plan (IEP)

is written and must be implemented by your child’s
third birthday. You must be invited to the IEP meeting,
and you may request that the school district invite
others, including the Early Steps service coordinator, a
representative from the program where your child has
been receiving services or any additional persons you
would like to have participate.

• Services will begin as written in the IEP.

Q: How can I find information about other programs

available in my community for children with
disabilities and special health care needs?

A: Your service coordinator or family resource specialist can

assist you with current resources, available programs and
information.

8
 Programs that May Be Available
in Your Community
The programs described on the following pages may be available to
provide services in your community once your child has turned three
years old.

Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities assists people who have
developmental disabilities and their families or guardians.
Developmental disability is a broad term that refers to a variety of
conditions that interfere with a person’s ability to function
in everyday activities. Developmental disabilities include spina bifida,
autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and
intellectual disability. In addition, the APD serves children who are
four and five years of age and are at high risk of a developmental
disability.

APD administers the Developmental Disabilities Home and

Community-Based Services (DD/HCBS) waiver, the Family and
Supported Living (FSL) waiver and the Consumer Directed Care Plus
(CDC+) program. Services within these programs are subject to the
availability of funding and may include consumable medical supplies
and respite care. For further information, families should contact the
local APD area office.

http://apd.myflorida.com

Department of Children and Families (DCF)

Child Care Services Program Office

This office is responsible for the administration of child care licensing

and training statewide. The program ensures that children are well
cared for in a safe, healthy, positive and educational environment by
trained, qualified child care staff. Currently, the program regulates
licensed child care facilities, licensed family day care homes and

9
licensed large family child care homes. In addition, the Child Care
Services Program office administers the regulation of family day care
homes not required to be licensed.

http://www.myflfamilies.com/

Department of Education (DOE)

Division of Blind Services, Blind Babies and Children and Families

Program

Blind Babies Program

The Blind Babies Program promotes early development of life skills

and places emphasis on the development and use of functional vision
skills or use of all other senses in order to minimize developmental
delays. The program is designed to help children with visual
impairments progress through the normal stages of development.
Early intervention services offered through the Blind Babies Program
are delivered by non-profit community rehabilitation providers
whenever possible, through contracts funded by the Blind Babies
Grant.

Children and Families Program

This program provides services for children from birth to 21 years of

age who have a diagnosed bilateral visual impairment that will affect
the child’s ability to learn or to function independently in the home or
school. Successful outcomes enable children to transition from
preschool to school or other appropriate community programs.

Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities

Specially designed instruction and related services for
prekindergarten children, three through five years of age, with
disabilities are part of the exceptional student education program
offered through Florida’s local school districts. Once a child is

10
determined to be eligible, an IEP must be developed and
implemented. If the child is transitioning from Early Steps, the IEP
must be written and implemented by the child’s third birthday.

http://www.fldoe.org

FL Division of Early Learning (DEL)

The Division of Early Learning is responsible for administering the
Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R), School
Readiness (sometimes referred to as child care assistance) and
the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Programs. DEL is
dedicated to ensuring the accessibility, affordability and quality of
early learning services for Florida’s children and families.

http://www.floridaearlylearning.com

Child Care Resource and Referral Network

The state CCR&R Network is dedicated to helping families find out

how to identify quality child care and early education programs and
how to locate a provider that meets the needs of each family. Local
CCR&R specialists can generate referrals to child care providers
and other service providers in your community that may meet the
needs of your family. The CCR&R Network can provide you with
information on state or federally funded early learning programs
such as School Readiness, Early Head Start, Head Start and Even
Start. Your local CCR&R can also provide you with creative
financial assistance options and community resources that may ease
your financial burden.

The School Readiness Program

The School Readiness program offers qualified parents financial

assistance for child care through a variety of services. Child care
services include extended-day, extended-year and school-age care to
support parents in becoming financially self-sufficient.

11
The School Readiness program takes into account the level of
physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of your child;
involves parents as their child’s first teacher; prepares children to
become ready for school; and provides parents with information
on child development and other topics of interest. By assuming the
majority of the family’s child care expenses, the School Readiness
program offers financial assistance to eligible families if:
• Your family is participating in the welfare transition program
• You are a migrant farm worker with children
• You are a teen parent
• Your family is served by the Family Safety Program Office of
DCF
• Your children need child care to minimize the risk of further
abuse, neglect or abandonment
• You have children with disabilities or special needs
• You have children from birth to four years of age who are at risk
of future school failure and who are served at home through
home visitor programs and intensive parent education programs
• Your family’s income does not exceed 150 percent of the federal
poverty guidelines

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program

The VPK Education Program is designed to prepare four-year- old

children for kindergarten and lay the foundation for their
educational success. VPK is free for all of Florida’s four-year-olds
born on or before September 1 of each year. The VPK program’s
quality standards include:
• Qualified instructors
• Strong emphasis on early literacy skills
• Age-appropriate curricula
• Manageable class sizes

Giving parents a wide selection of choices is a priority, so both

private and public providers participate. VPK providers may set their
own schedules to provide the required hours for either program:

12
• School Year Program—540 teaching hours: class sizes of 20 or
fewer students; instructors must have a minimum of a Child
Development Associate (now referred to as the Birth to Five
Florida Child Care Professional Credential)
• Summer Program—300 teaching hours; class sizes of 12 or
fewer students; instructors must have a minimum of a
bachelor’s degree in a specified area
• Specialized Instructional Services (SIS)—A non-traditional VPK
program for children with disabilities who have a current IEP.
SIS services are delivered by providers approved
by the Florida Department of Education and
likely delivered in a non-classroom setting.
http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/voluntary_pre_k.aspx

Early Head Start/Head Start

Head Start is a group of federally funded child development

programs for children from birth to mandatory school age. Early
Head Start serves pregnant women and children from birth to age
three; Head Start serves children from three to five years old; and
Migrant and Seasonal Head Start serves children from six weeks
old to school age.

Of the participating families, 90 percent must have incomes at or

below the national poverty guidelines. Head Start is also mandated
to provide at least 10 percent of its enrollment to children with
disabilities. The full range of services provided to all children
participating in the Head Start program includes:
• High-quality early childhood education in inclusive settings
• Health services—including medical, dental and mental health—
and nutrition counseling
• Family services and parent engagement activities
http://www.floridaheadstart.org

13
Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS)

Nineteen FDLRS centers throughout the state provide

free screening for children who might not be keeping pace
developmentally with other children their age in walking, talking,
hearing, seeing, understanding or behaving. FDLRS may help provide
evaluations for individual children who are nearing three years of age,
are leaving Early Steps and who might enter school system programs
for children with disabilities.

http://www.fdlrs.org

Florida Medicaid

Florida Medicaid is the medical assistance program that provides access

to health care for low income families and individuals. Children may be
eligible for programs such as Child Health Check- UP, which includes a
physical exam, immunizations (shots), vision and hearing checks and
other tests and services.

Florida Kidcare

Kidcare is a children’s health insurance program for children birth to

19 years who meet income and eligibility requirements. Children may
be enrolled in Medikids, Healthy Kids or Children’s Medical Services
Network if they do not qualify for Medicaid.

http://www.floridakidcare.org

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB)/Parent

Infant Program – Deaf/Hard of Hearing

FSDB offers a statewide program for Florida families who

have children birth to 5 years with a documented hearing loss
or bilateral vision loss, with services provided in the family’s natural
environment and daily routines. Emphasis is on language development,
communication options, understanding hearing aids, cochlear implants,
literacy, child development and transition into a school system.

http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us

14
 Resources
Family Support Systems

Children and their families/caregivers have several options for

receiving parent-to-parent support during the transition process.
Listed below are some supports for families:

Family Resource Specialists (FRS)

Family Resource Specialists are individuals employed by the local

Early Steps offices to assist families with all areas of early
intervention, including transition.

http://www.EarlyStepsDirectory.com

Local Support Networks

Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), Central Florida

Parent Center, Family Network on Disabilities (FND), Parent to
Parent of Miami and others are available to provide assistance,
support and information regarding transition.

15
 Family Transition Checklist

In addition to your questions and concerns, consider bringing the

following to your meetings:

o A certified copy of your child’s birth certificate

o A current copy of reports for any therapy/ developmental
evaluations, vision and hearing screenings, etc.

o A current copy of the individualized family support plan

o Your child’s physical exam forms, including immunization forms,
current within one year

o Your most recent utility bill, as proof of your residence

o The names, addresses and phone numbers of emergency
contacts

o Signed, written permission/consent for exchange of information

between agencies

o The name, address and phone number of your child’s physician

and dentist

16
 Websites

Agency for Persons with Disabilities

http://apd.myflorida.com

Americans with Disabilities Act

http://www.ada.gov/

Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services

http://www.fldoe.org/ese

CARD Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities

http://florida-card.org

Central Florida Parent Center

http://centralfloridaparentcenter.org/

Council for Exceptional Children, Division for Early Childhood

http://www.dec-sped.org
Division of Blind Services
http://dbs.myflorida.com

Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center

http://www.ectacenter.org
Early Steps
http://www.EarlyStepsDirectory.com
Family Network on Disabilities of Florida, Inc.
http://www.fndfl.org

Florida Department of Education

http://www.fldoe.org

17
 Florida Department of Children and Families
http://www.myflfamilies.com/

Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System

http://www.fdlrs.org

Florida’s Head Start State Collaboration Office

http://www.floridaheadstart.org

Florida Kidcare
http://floridakidcare.org

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind

http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/

National Association for the Education of Young Children

http://www.naeyc.org

State of Florida
http://www.myflorida.com
Technical Assistance and Training System
http://www.tats.ucf.edu

Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program

http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/vpk

18
 Tips to Help with Transition
The following tips may help you and your child prepare for
transition:

• Complete a helpful information sheet about your child, such as

“Getting to Know Me + My Family,” which can be found on the
website at https://tats.ucf.edu/transition/

• This form can help the staff at your child’s new setting learn all
about your child.

• Talk about the new setting in positive ways with your child and
other family members.
• Contact the teacher in the new setting and arrange to meet to
discuss daily routines, schedules, curriculum and any medical
needs your child may have while participating in the program.

• Ask questions about such topics as your child riding on a school

bus, playground participation, the amount of services to be
provided, how therapies will be provided and nap time rules.

• If possible, visit the new setting to talk with the teacher and see
the room.
• Talk with your child about the things that are the same and the
things that are different about the current program and the new
one.

• Involve your child in group experiences, such as the story hour

at your local library.

19
 Books to Read to Your Child
The books listed below are about going to school or starting
something new. These and other books may be found in
your community library or bookstore.

Bernard Goes to School, by Joan Elizabeth Goodman

Billy and the Big New School, by Laurence Anholt
Busy at Day Care, by Patricia DeMuth
Emily’s First Day of School, by Fran Schiller
First Day Jitters, by Julie Danneberg
Froggy Goes to School, by Jonathan London
Hello School, by Dee Lillegard
I’ll Go To School If…, by Bo Flood
Little Cliff ’s First Day at School, by Clifton L.Taulbert
Little Monster Goes to School, by Alison Inches
Moses Goes to School, by Isaac Millman
Off to School, Baby Duck! by Amy Hest
Special People, Special Ways, by Arlene Maguire
Susan Laughs, by Jeanne Willis
Timothy Goes to School, by Rosemary Wells
Vera’s First Day of School, by Vera Rosenberry

20
Important Names and Numbers

Notes

21
https://tats.ucf.edu/transition/