Don’t Wait: The Critical Window for TK & Kindergarten IEPs (And Why Early Intervention Matters)

As the school year winds down, this is a critical window for families and educators. If there’s anything you’ve been meaning to put in motion before summer, now is the time to act. Planning ahead is essential, and school districts often operate on fixed timelines, leaving limited flexibility for scheduling assessments and services. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the challenges many families face in kindergarten and transitional kindergarten classrooms when it comes to getting students evaluated and connected with the support they need. Tune in as we break it down and share what you should know.

Show Highlights:

• The reality of expectations for TK students measured against kindergarten standards
• Watch out for the “typical peer” trap.
• What we are seeing from schools
• An example to support this question: “Which group of typical peers is my child being compared to?”
• Does the level of support prove that the child needs services?
• Understanding the functional component of education (lining up, transitioning to other classrooms, grasping routines and procedures, etc.)
• The purpose of an IEP is to provide consistent implementation from year to year.
• It’s not appropriate to rely on the “COVID baby” designation to excuse a student’s struggles.
• Early intervention is everything!

Resources:

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org.

Thank you for listening!

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