Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
State teams and local councils work to smooth Part C-to-Part B transitions; common issues flagged
Loading...
Summary
KSDE and KDHE staff said they have been meeting monthly to address recurring transition problems between Part C (infant/toddler) and Part B (preschool) programs. Local interagency coordinating councils (LICCs) and state teams are working on MOUs, clarity about screening versus evaluation, and the continuum of placements.
State and local officials described steps to improve transitions for children moving from Part C early intervention to Part B preschool services, and participants raised recurring local issues that the state team will continue to address.
Stacy said KSDE and KDHE have been meeting monthly and “we've been meeting monthly and talking through issues, what's going well, what isn't going well.” She described the state effort as aimed at aligning expectations and producing clear guidance so local Part C providers, Part B districts and LICCs hear the same direction.
Why it matters: transitions at age 3 are a high‑risk moment for service continuity. Effective coordination reduces gaps in services that families rely on during early learning years.
Issues and examples raised in discussion
- Differing eligibility rules and misunderstandings: several speakers described confusion when Part C providers expect children to automatically continue in Part B but Part B uses different eligibility criteria. One councilmember summarized: “the rules for qualification are very different between Part C and Part B.”
- Screening versus evaluation: staff emphasized that local screening should not substitute for the formal Part B evaluation process when a child is already identified in Part C; Part B either completes a full evaluation or documents prior written notice explaining why an evaluation will not be conducted.
- Continuum of placements and least‑restrictive environment: council members and state staff urged districts to offer a full continuum of placement options, including inclusive preschool settings, and to avoid blanket statements such as “we don't serve 3‑year‑olds.” Bert urged local partners to notify KSDE when districts decline to offer continuum options so the state can intervene.
- Local hot spots and reconciliation: state teams said they have conducted in‑person problem‑solving sessions in communities with persistent disagreements; those meetings often result in renewed agreements and clearer local MOUs.
- LICCs: participants highlighted the role of Local Interagency Coordinating Councils in convening health, education, child care and family representatives to troubleshoot local access and service coordination.
State direction and next steps
KSDE and KDHE staff asked LICCs and local programs to surface unresolved transition disagreements so state teams can broker solutions, produce clarifying guidance, and, where needed, work directly with district and county leaders. Staff said they will continue monthly cross‑agency meetings and provide written guidance and sample MOUs for local use.
Sources: Meeting transcript Q&A among KSDE, KDHE staff and local LICC chairs and parent representatives.
