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Transition out of Early Steps

What to expect when your child Turns 3

Transition outof Early StepsWhat to expect when your child Turns 3

Thursday, February 17th, 12noon-1PM, Free Webinar, An Overview of the transition process from Early Steps. Click here to register.


In this webinar an overview of the transition process will be explained, along with options for a 3 year old child. Public schools, charter schools like UCP, use of the Parent Empowerment Scholarship for private or homeschool learning and even transportation will be discussed.


Watch below the replay of the Webinar that was livestream on FND PEN Facebook

Workshop Summary

Each family in Early Steps will be contacted by their Family Care Coordinator (FCC) as early as six months before the child’s third birthday but no later than 3 months before the child’s 3rd birthday to discuss next steps for transition out of Early Steps on the child’s 3rd birthday.


  • An appointment will be made with the public schools for the child to have an evaluation. Most school districts will not be able to tell you what school your child would attend until the meeting to go over the evaluation results.
  • The following areas will be evaluated: Communication, adaptive (self-help), personal-social, cognitive, and motor.
  • Even if you do not plan to send your child to public school on their third birthday, it is highly recommended that you allow the school district to complete the evaluation as the data from the evaluation will be beneficial for you to have about your child.
  • After the evaluation there will be a meeting to discuss the results and listen to parent concerns. If the child qualifies, based on an Educational Model, an Individualized Education Plan will be created.
  • Children who qualify for public school services can begin on their third birthday if the paperwork is in order. Transportation is provided to and from school.


Once your child turns three, your choices, depending upon evaluation scores are:

  • Public Schools
  • Charter Schools (like UCP)
  • Private Schools-Some accept the Family Empowerment Scholarship, not all. There is a list of schools that accept FES at Gardiner Scholarship | Special Needs Scholarship | Step Up For Students
  • Home School-Therapies, materials, services can be purchased through the Family Empowerment Scholarship for children who qualify. Therapists and teachers must be licensed in the state of Florida in order to be paid by the scholarship.


Orange County Public Schools Early Intervention - Orange County Public Schools (ocps.net) The majority of qualifying students are offered half day classroom services but a small number do qualify for full day services. OCPS also offers itinerant services.


Osceola County Public Schools Early Childhood Learning Center (Pre-K) / Early Childhood Learning Center (Pre-K) (osceolaschools.net) Osceola offers 5 full days of classroom services for qualifying students.


Seminole County Public Schools Pre-K Disabilities Program | Seminole County Public Schools (scps.k12.fl.us)- Half and full day classroom services are offered based on the evaluation scores.


UCP in Orange County does the Transition Meetings for their current students who are turning three. https://ucpcfl.org/

Workshop Resources

The Central Florida Education Guide
Listed information inside this guide that will help you become educated on services in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and Volusia counties

FND Resources

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Parent Education Network

Collectively the PEN Team has over 60 years of experience with all aspects of disability from medical diagnosis, early intervention to school eligibility - IDEA/IEP, inclusion in school & community setting, navigating Transition and Post Secondary options to living independently, and much much more … our goal is to share our experience, strength and hope through informal storytelling of raising our children with a wide range of disabilities & family dynamics.


PEN serves 12 counties from Southeast FL into parts of Central FL, Please call 800-825-5736 if you would like to talk to a Parent trainer.


https://www.facebook.com/FNDPEN

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Soren Richardson

Soren is the Assistant Program Director for the Parent Education Network, a project under the Family Network on Disabilities (FND). Soren has completed Florida Partners in Policymaking and Pete’s Wrightslaw workshops. Soren has been involved with the public school system and IEPs for over 5 years and enjoys educating parents how to navigate the special education process. Soren lives in Central Florida with her husband and son. Soren was born and raised in Aruba and speaks four languages (English, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento).


Email: soren@fndfl.org

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Rose Lumm

Rose is a Family Resource Specialist for Early Steps of Central FL. She taught for Orange County Public Schools before coming to Early Steps. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education and is a graduate of Partners in Policymaking through the FL Developmental Disabilities Council. She has served as a Board Member for UCP and the Spina Bifida Association of Central FL. Rose is active in the FL Family Leaders Network. Rose is the proud mother of twins plus one. Her son who lives with Spina Bifida was in Early Steps. Rose is honored to help empower Central FL families on their parenting journey.


If you have any questions, please contact Rose Lumm