Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-120.209

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 10, November 13, 2024

Rule 281-120.209 - Transition to preschool and other programs

(1)Application requirements. The department must include the following in its application:

a. A description of the policies and procedures the state will use to ensure a smooth transition for infants and toddlers with disabilities under the age of three and their families from receiving early intervention services under this chapter to:

(1) Preschool or other appropriate services (for toddlers with disabilities); or

(2) Exiting the program for infants and toddlers with disabilities.

b. A description of how the state will satisfy subrules 120.209(2) through 120.209(6).

c. An intra-agency agreement between the department's program that administers Part C of the Act and the department's program that administers Section 619 of Part B of the Act (early childhood special education). To ensure a seamless transition between services under Parts C and B of the Act, the intra-agency agreement must address how the department will satisfy subrules 120.209(2) through 120.209(6) (including any policies adopted by the lead agency under 34 CFR § 303.401(d) and (e)), subrule 120.344(8), rule 281-41.124 (256B, 34CFR300), and 281-subrules 41.101(2) and 41.321(6).

d. Any policy the department has adopted under 34 CFR § 303.401(d) and (e).

(2)Notification to the department and appropriate AEA.

a. The department must ensure that:

(1) Subject to paragraph 120.209(2)"b," not fewer than 90 days before the third birthday of the toddler with a disability if that toddler may be eligible for preschool services under Part B of the Act, the public agency responsible for providing Early ACCESS services to the toddler notifies the department and the AEA for the area in which the toddler resides that the toddler on the toddler's third birthday will reach the age of eligibility for services under Part B of the Act, as determined in accordance with state law;

(2) Subject to paragraph 120.209(2)"b," if the toddler is determined to be eligible for Early ACCESS services more than 45 but less than 90 days before that toddler's third birthday and if that toddler may be eligible for preschool services under Part B of the Act, the public agency responsible for providing Early ACCESS services to the toddler, as soon as possible after determining the child's eligibility, notifies the department and the AEA for the area in which the toddler with a disability resides that the toddler on the toddler's third birthday will reach the age of eligibility for services under Part B of the Act, as determined in accordance with state law; or

(3) Subject to paragraph 120.209(2)"b," if a toddler is referred to Early ACCESS under rules 281-120.302 ( 34CFR303) and 281-120.303 (34CFR303) fewer than 45 days before that toddler's third birthday and that toddler may be eligible for preschool services under Part B of the Act, the public agency that would be responsible for determining the child's eligibility under this chapter, with parental consent required under rule 281-120.414 (34CFR303), refers the toddler to the department and the AEA for the area in which the toddler resides; however, no agency is required to conduct an evaluation, assessment, or an initial IFSP meeting under these circumstances.

b. The department must ensure that the notification required under subparagraphs 120.209(2)"a"(1) and (2) is consistent with any policy that the state has adopted, under 34 CFR § 303.401(e), permitting a parent to object to disclosure of personally identifiable information.

(3)Conference to discuss services. The department must ensure that:

a. If a toddler with a disability may be eligible for preschool services under Part B of the Act, the public agency responsible for Early ACCESS services, with the approval of the family of the toddler, convenes a conference, among that agency, the family, and the AEA of the toddler's residence not fewer than 90 days-and, at the discretion of all parties, not more than nine months-before the toddler's third birthday to discuss any services the toddler may receive under Part B of the Act; and

b. If the public agency determines that a toddler with a disability is not potentially eligible for preschool services under Part B of the Act, the public agency, with the approval of the family of that toddler, makes reasonable efforts to convene a conference among that agency, the family, and providers of other appropriate services for the toddler to discuss appropriate services that the toddler may receive.

(4)Transition plan. The department must ensure that for all toddlers with disabilities:

a. The appropriate public agency reviews the program options for the toddler with a disability for the period from the toddler's third birthday through the remainder of the school year and each family ofa toddler with a disability who is served under this chapter is included in the development of the transition plan required under this rule and subrule 120.344(8);

b. The appropriate public agency establishes a transition plan in the IFSP not fewer than 90 days-and, at the discretion of all parties, not more than nine months-before the toddler's third birthday; and

c. The transition plan in the IFSP includes, consistent with subrule 120.344(8), as appropriate:

(1) Steps for the toddler with a disability and the toddler's family to exit from the Part C program; and

(2) Any transition services that the IFSP team identifies as needed by that toddler and the toddler's family.

(5)Transition conference and meeting to develop transition plan. Any conference conducted under subrule 120.209(3) or meeting to develop the transition plan under subrule 120.209(4) (which conference and meeting may be combined into one meeting) must satisfy subrules 120.342(4), 120.342(5), and 120.343(1).

(6)Applicability of transition requirements. The transition requirements in subparagraphs 120.209(2)"a"(1) and (2), paragraph 120.209(3)"a," and subrule 120.209(4) apply to all toddlers with disabilities receiving services under this chapter before those toddlers turn age three.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-120.209

ARC 0100C, IAB 4/18/12, effective 5/23/12

Adopted by IAB April 17, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 21, effective 5/22/2024