Transitioning to Kindergarten

The journey into kindergarten is a significant milestone in your child’s life. By planning early, you can help make the transition smoother and support your child in feeling ready for this next step.

Families who think their child may benefit from supports like an interpreter, or captioning services, may want to explore an Individualized Education Program (IEP), or a 504 Plan under section 504 Of the Rehabilitation Act. An IEP is a written plan for children who qualify for special education services. It outlines the specialized instruction and supports they need to learn and grow in school. If your child does not qualify for an IEP, they may still be eligible for a 504 Plan. These plans provide accommodations to meet a student’s needs, such as communication access, but they do not include specialized instruction and offer fewer legal protections than IEPs.

If your child already has an IEP, the school will follow a set timeline and process for transitioning into kindergarten. You and the IEP team will meet to review your child’s needs, plan any evaluations, and update the IEP as needed. For all families, it can be helpful to write a letter introducing your child to the kindergarten teacher in advance. You can use our letter template to get started.

Tools and Support

Here are some helpful tools and resources to support your family during the kindergarten transition:

• Transitioning from Preschool to Kindergarten is a step-by-step guide created by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) that explains the IEP transition process.
• The Evaluation Roadmap provides a clear overview of the evaluation process used to determine if a child qualifies for special education services
• Kindergarten Transition Plan: A Tool for Families , created by OSU’s Family Engagement Center, is a flexible planning guide which helps you think through your child’s unique needs and how to support them in kindergarten.
• Local Parent Mentors are parents of children with disabilities who are trained to support other families statewide. They can offer one-on-one guidance and help you understand your options.
• Parent Mentor services are available through the Ohio School for the Deaf, which can be helpful for deaf/hard of hearing specific needs. You can ask about parent mentor services through their contact form.