Is your child moving to a new school this year? A move like this—or even the jump to a new grade level—can be a stressful transition for you and your child. One concern: Perhaps you’re worried about how well the IEP, or Individualized Education Program, will make the transition along with your child and if the new school or teacher will even honor the IEP. How to Transfer an IEP to a New SchoolIf your child is moving to a new school but you didn’t have a "transition meeting" with your child's IEP team at the previous school, request a meeting to take place before the start of the school year and no later than the end of the first week of school. If you’ve moved to a new state, your child’s new school district must provide an education comparable to that of the previous district until a decision is made to adopt your child’s IEP from the previous school district, or to develop and implement a new IEP that meets the applicable requirements pursuant to IDEA and your state’s special education rules. Learn more about your child’s rights if you move to a new school in the same state or to a different state.
Working with an IEP at a New Grade LevelEven if your child is moving to the next grade level at the same school—and will have a different teacher—you may be concerned. Academic pressures increase from one grade level to the next, and teachers have different attitudes and approaches to teaching. In this case, be proactive and set up a meeting with the new teacher(s) early in the school year. Together you can review your child’s IEP, you can explain what helps your child learn best, and answer any questions the teacher has. Depending on your child’s age, you might include him or her in the meeting. After all, the new teacher will now become a member of your child’s IEP team too!
