Transition to School-Age Services in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, the Bureau of Special Education (BSE) and the Bureau of Early Intervention Services (BEIS) have standardized procedures and forms to help make sure that transition procedures are followed. These procedures apply to all children receiving special education and related services in Preschool Special Education programs and apply to all school districts (and charter schools) throughout the state.

By February 1 of each year, Pennsylvania Preschool Special Education programs send a list of the children in their programs who are eligible for kindergarten or first grade to the school districts where the children live. The preschool must also send a letter explaining the transition process to the parents of these children. The preschool must schedule a transition meeting no later than February 28th for each child approaching the age to begin kindergarten or first grade. Note that transition meetings are not necessarily Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, but they may also serve as such if all necessary participants are present and appropriate notice has been given.

At the transition meeting, parents will be asked to sign an Intent to Register form. This form does not obligate you to send your child to kindergarten in the upcoming school year, but you must complete it before transition planning can begin. The form gives your child's preschool permission to send relevant documents and records to the school district for planning purposes. If you choose to have your child remain in his or her preschool program an extra year instead of enrolling in kindergarten, you will be asked to complete an Intent to Register form for first grade eligible students the following year.

Whenever you decide to begin school-age services, you will have the opportunity to participate on a team which decides the educational programming for your child. Like in the preschool system, you will contribute to any re-evaluation of your child and be an active member of your child's IEP team. Additionally, you will be asked to sign a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) to indicate your consent to services.

Additional Resources

• Intent to Register – Kindergarten Age Eligible Form
• Intent to Register – First Grade Eligible Form
• Notice of Options for Your Child's Transition
• Notice of Your Child's Transition to School Age Meeting
• Transition to Kindergarten: A Planning Guide for Parents of Students In Philadelphia
• Pennsylvania NOREP for School Age Children