Preparing for the Transition

The end of the school year is approaching and many of you may be having your children transitioning into new schools for the fall. Having your child in a whole new environment can be a very frightening thing for parents and you may be concerned with whether it will be the best placement for your child. Luckily we have a few tips for you that will hopefully ease your transition.

1. Talk to your IEP team members ahead of time about your concerns:

As a group discuss the transition and problem solve what you anticipate to be the issues with the change to a new environment. There are plenty of things the school can do to help prepare a student who has difficulty with transitions.

2. Visit and Observe the possible placement options:

You can ask to visit the locations in which your child could attend. This will help you view what the environment is like and get a feel for the possible choices for your child. You can contact your district or the schools directly to organize this.

3. Have a list of questions for your observation:

Ahead of time sit down and think about your child’s needs and prepare questions to ask the instructors to make sure it is the correct placement for your child and that all his/her needs are addressed. Be respectful of the instructor’s time. Interrupting her instruction would not be appropriate. Often during an observation you will be accompanied by the school principal or psychologist of whom you can direct your questions.

4. Monitor your child:

During the time your child is attending their new placement it is important to observe your child and their behavior and academics. This will help you determine whether you should think about a more appropriate placement or if they are fine where they are at.

5. Schedule a 30-day review:

It is recommended that you schedule an IEP meeting within the first 30 days of the school year so you can review how your child is doing and make any necessary changes to your child’s IEP, including whether to stay or find a more appropriate educational setting for your child.

 

The transitioning process can be overwhelming for both parents and child, just remember our office is here to help you with all parts of your child’s IEP. Contact our office for your evaluation and we will work to facilitate this process for you and place your child in the best environment to help him/her thrive.