There is no one thing that guarantees a child is ready for kindergarten. A variety of social, cognitive, and fine motor skills are taken into consideration. And for a child with delays or disabilities in any of these areas, the decision to send him or her to kindergarten may be even more difficult.
At the foundation of the AIU’s Preschool Early Intervention (PEI) program is the principle that children with identified delays should have access to the same opportunities and experiences as their typically developing peers. This includes the transition to kindergarten.
During the 2023-2024 school year, the PEI program reached more than 4,000 children ages three through school-age who met eligibility criteria set by the state. The children in the PEI program have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) created by a team that includes the family, and they may receive services in a variety of environments like home, childcare, or specialized classrooms.
As families prepare for the upcoming school year, over 1,200 children are expected to transition from PEI services to kindergarten classrooms across 42 school districts in Allegheny County. It is a large undertaking for PEI staff to facilitate these transitions, and it is one they take very seriously.
Melissa Friend and Dr. Loreleigh Elders are the two Principal Directors for PEI at the AIU. Dr. Elders acknowledges that the process is more about preparing families and school districts than preparing children. “We are always working towards a child’s IEP goals and closing the developmental gap,” she says. “The kindergarten transition process is more focused on making sure that the school district is ready to continue to support the child.”
In Pennsylvania, the process begins in February. Every family is invited to attend a transition meeting with representatives from the PEI program and the school district. The meeting provides an opportunity for families to share their perspectives and to learn more about the school district’s Special Education programs.
During the meeting, PEI provides required forms to families, including a “Notice of Options” and an “Intent to Register.” In addition to completing these forms, the child must be registered for kindergarten.
The goal of the transition process is for the school district to have special education programming in place for the child on the very first day of kindergarten. This looks different for every child and every district – but with intentional planning and collaboration, the kindergarten transition process can be a smooth and successful one.