Inside MPAC

Transition to Kindergarten—Preparing for a Kindergarten IEP

All young children experience several transitions in the early childhood years, which involve movement from one environment to another.  Transitions require change but also present new opportunities for the child and family.  There are two common times when transitions occur for young children with disabilities and their families.  At age three when the child transitions from Early Intervention (EI) to Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) and at age five when the child transitions from ECSE services to kindergarten.  Instead of an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), an Individual Education Program (IEP) is developed.  The following are helpful resource links for Multnomah County parents as they prepare for their child's kindergarten transition meeting with the different school districts served by Multnomah Education Service District/Multnomah Early Childhood Program (MESD/MECP).  

Resources for parents preparing for their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) kindergarten transition meeting:

  

  • Portland Public School (PPS) Transitioning Early Childhood

    • —listing of names and contact information for each transition team coordinator in Portland Public Schools.  http://www.sped.pps.k12.or.us/www/depts/special_ed/early_childhood_transition_tea.html

     

  • Portland Public Schools 2008 Policies and Procedures Manual

    • —provides a great deal of information on how its special education department works, outlines procedures that staff must follow, and explains its definition of least restrictive environment (LRE).  http://www.sped.pps.k12.or.us/www/depts/special_ed/about/policies_and_procedures.html

     

  • Oregon Department of Education benchmarks for Kindergarten

    • —use the pulldown area to select for the grade and academic area.  Parents are encouraged to become familiar with kindergarten benchmarks so they can have an idea of the general education curriculum and what might need to be adapted for their child.  http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/real/standards/default.aspx

     

  • Enrollment Transfer—Portland Public Schools

    • —if you are seeking to transfer your child to another school besides the neighborhood school, this is important to become familiar with.  http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/make_a_choice.php

     

  • Wrightslaw

    • —an excellent resource for families preparing for a child’s IEP. Written in easy-to-understand language, these two special education attorneys offer families many tips and strategies for getting the most of the IEP process.  http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.htm 

     

    Information about special education services in school districts outside of Portland Public Schools:

    Centennial School District http://www.centennial.k12.or.us/ss/ss_spec_ed.php
    Corbett School District http://www.corbett.k12.or.us
    David Douglas School District http://www.ddouglas.k12.or.us
    Gresham-Barlow School District http://www.gresham.k12.or.us/special_services/SpcSrv_main.html
    Parkrose School District http://do.parkrose.k12.or.us/index.php?id=189
    Reynolds School District http://www.reynolds.k12.or.us
    Riverdale School District http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/15271062911553170/site/default.asp

    Family And Community Together (FACT) is a family leadership coalition working to facilitate positive change in policies, systems and attitudes affecting Oregonians with disabilities or chronic health concerns and their families. More about FACT ...