Turning 3

1. Up to 9 months before age 3: with your OK, early intervention (Part C) can start planning. The transition plan must be written at least 90 days before the third birthday.
2. At least 90 days before age 3: early intervention tells the school district and state that your child may be eligible (you may be able to opt out in some states), and holds a transition conference with you and the district, if you agree.
3. The district evaluates, with your written consent. Bring early intervention reports; they can be part of the evaluation.
4. By the third birthday: if your child is eligible, an IEPWhat does IEP mean?? must be in place, or the IFSP can continue if your state allows and you agree.
5. Services start in a regular preschool, Head Start, a district classroom, a therapy setting or at home, in the least restrictive environment.

The law: 34 CFR 303.209 (Part C); 300.124; 300.101(b); 300.323(b)

If your child turns 3 during the summer, the IEP team decides when services start. Ask whether your child needs extended school year services so there is no gap.

The law: 34 CFR 300.101(b)(2); 300.106

• Who from the district will come to the transition conference?
• What evaluations will the district do, and can it use the early intervention reports?
• What does preschool special education look like here: which classrooms, how many hours, transportation?
• Can services happen in my child's current child care or preschool?
• If my child is not eligible, what else is available: Head Start, public pre-K, community programs?

Write your parent input statement and bring it to the conference.

Each state has a preschool special education coordinator (sometimes called the 619 coordinator, after the part of IDEA that covers ages 3 to 5). They can tell you how the handoff works in your state. For your own child, start with your school district's Child Find office.

Contacts from the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) list, November 2026. Developmental delay ages are the ages each state reported using that category. People change jobs; check the state page if a contact is out of date.

Early intervention for babies and toddlers is on IDD Atlas. Any child can be referred; you do not need a diagnosis.