Transitioning to Part B: An Innovative Solution

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Transitioning to Part B An Innovative Solution

• Renee Dino
• Lynn Wolfe
• Pam Booker

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Lets Talk

• Whats your role?
• Why did you choose this session?
• What are you hoping to gain from this session?

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Transitioning to Part B An Innovative Solution
Background Story
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Williamsburg James City County

• A Community that Recognizes the Value of High
  Quality Early Childhood Programs and the Direct
  Relationshipto School Readiness Lifelong
  Success

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Visionary Thinking of Community Leaders

• Preschool Task Force Appointed over 10 Years
  ago by Williamsburg City Council, James City
  County Supervisors and WJC School Board to Advise
  on a Seamless System of Services for Young
  Children

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Governor Warners Early Childhood Partnership
Grant

• Increase Community Awareness and Advocacy
• Strengthen Transitions
• Support School Readiness

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Essential Partnerships

• Families
• Child Development Resources
• Community Action Agency Head Start
• Olde Towne Medical Center
• Child Family Connection
• Social Services Williamsburg and James City
  County
• Community Services Board
• Community Child Care
• C.H.I.P. Child Health Investment Project
• Pediatricians Medical Specialist
• College of William and Mary

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High quality pre-kindergarten has been
documented to be the single best investment for
improving achievement.
Susan Neuman former assistant secretary for
elementary and secondary education U.S. Dept of
Education
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During the First 5 Years of Life When the Brain
is Developing Most Rapidly, We Spend the Least
Amount of Money on Education than at Any Other
Time in the Life of the Child.
Early Learning Left Out April 2005
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Early Childhood Programs Williamsburg -James
City County

• Community Action Agency
• 170 Head Start students
• Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
• 135 Early childhood special education students
• 165 Bright Beginnings students

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Program Growth 2005-06 School Year

• September 116
• October 125
• November 131
• December 136
• January 139
• March 152

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Program Growth2001 2005

• 2001 66 Children with IEPs
• 2002 76
• 2003 87
• 2004 115
• 2005 132

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Challenges

• More children with clinically significant
  behavior challenges
• More children whose primary language is not
  English
• Alarming increase in the incidence of Autism
• Rapid growth in the community

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Part C in Williamsburg James City County

• Child Development Resources (CDR) www.cdr.org
• Serves 200 Families a Year
• Williamsburg - James City County, York County and
  Poquoson

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Part C in Williamsburg James City County

• Infant Parent Program
• OT, PT, SLP, and Educators
• All IPP Staff Serve as Service Coordinators
  Primary Service Providers

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Part C in Williamsburg James City County

• Relationships Differ with Each County

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Part C in Williamsburg James City County

• The Transition Process is always changing.

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Transition Steps

• Referral to Part B (by April 1st)
• 90-day Transition Meeting
• Child Study Meeting -10 Business Days from
  Referral Date
• Evaluation/Observation of Child by Part B
• Eligibility Meeting - 65 Business Days from
  Referral Date
• IEP Meeting - 30 Calendar Days from Eligibility
  Date
• Child Starts School

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Transition An Innovative Solution

• April 1st Notification
• 90-day Transition/
• Open House (group event)
• Referral to Part B
• Observation
• IEP meeting

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April 1st

• Head Count / September
• Heads Up / Later

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90 Day Transition

• Takes Place at an Open House Event Held in Early
  May
• Each Parent Has the Opportunity to Meet
  Individually with Part B and Part C
  Representatives
• Parents Observe Classrooms, Meet Part B Staff

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90 Day TransitionExceptions

• Individual transition meetings are scheduled
• When a child turns three over the summer
• If a parent is unable to attend the open house

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Referrals

• Official Referrals are Sent by June 15th
• If They Turn 3 Over the Summer Refer 65 business
  Days Prior to the Childs 3rd Birthday
• A Form Letter is Used in Addition to the IFSP
• To Help Part B Staff Determine Who Needs to be at
  the Meetings
• To Identify Services the Parents Would Like the
  Team to Consider

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Referral LetterSAMPLE
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Referrals

• Developmental Levels Current
• 6 months of referral
• Usually Done at 6 Month Review or Annual IFSP
• Does Not Have to be a Full Team Assessment
• Primary Service Provider Can Update Levels

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Eligibility

• CDR Assessment
• Same Process Schools Use When a Child Transfers
  into the School System with a Current IEP.
• NO SEPARATE ELIGIBILITY MEETING!

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Acknowledgement of Referral

• Parents Receive Letter from Part B
• An overview of the process, including timelines
  is included

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Observation

• Part B Makes an Observation of the Child.
• This Might Happen During a Separate Home Visit,
  During a CDR Playgroup, or During the IEP
  Meeting.
• Might Also Take Place at the School, if the
  Parent Schedules a Time to Observe a Classroom
  and Brings the Child

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IEP Meeting

• The IFSP is Accepted as a Transfer
• Meeting Includes the Parent/Legal Guardian, Part
  C Service Coordinator/Provider, LEA
  Representative, and a Special Educator.
• Related Services Personnel Might also Attend,
  Particularly Speech Therapist

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IEP Meeting

• The Meeting Takes Place _at_
• Familys Home
• School
• CDR
• The Team Looks at the IFSP Goals
• Determines if any changes or additions are
  needed.
• Services are determined.

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IEP Meeting

• Changes with Related Services Can Happen at the
  IEP Meeting
• Add Services
• Change Intensity
• In person or prior to the meeting by reviewing
  the IFSP.

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First Day Of School
A Bright Beginning lasts a lifetime. . .
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Late/Mid-Year Referrals

• Transition Meeting is Scheduled
• 90 Days Prior to the Childs 3rd Birthday or
  Anticipated Date of Transition
• This is Scheduled Individually, Usually as a Part
  of a Classroom Observation
• Will take place prior to referral!
• Referral 65 Business Days Prior to Childs
  Anticipated Start Date.

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Benefits For Families
What Did You Hear?

• Flexibility
• Responsive to Family Concerns
• Time Saver
• Convenient
• Less Anxiety for Children Families
• Trust Building / Partnership between Part C
  Part B

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Part B Benefits
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Cost Comparison

• Traditional transition
• Full assessment (925.)
• Eligibility meeting (450.)
• IEP meeting (225.)

• Seamless transition
• Accept assessment from CDR
• Accept IFSP
• Develop transition IEP (225.)

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It is not whether we can afford to invest it is
whether we can afford not to .
Brad Butler, former CEO Proctor Gamble
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Part C Benefits

• Time Savings for Service Coordinators
• One Open House Event Covers Most 90 Day
  Transition Meetings
• Only One Meeting!
• Cost Savings
• Personnel Time
• Mileage Reimbursement

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Transition Comparison

• Referral to Part B
• 90-day transition meeting/Child Study
• Observation/Eval
• Eligibility Meeting
• IEP Meeting
• Total time from referral to IEP 4.5-5 months

• 90-day transition/Open House (group event)
• Referral to Part B
• Observation
• IEP meeting
• Total time from referral to IEP 1-1.5 months

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Large Group

• Questions?
• How to Begin Discussions with Part B?
• Do they treat EI differently from other Part B
  school divisions when accepting scores/IFSPs?
• Strategies for Improving Communication

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THANK YOU
Renee, Lynn Pam