If my child is in a special education program in another state and we move to Illinois, how does that work?

Dexter Dicostanzo: My recommendation is to request a copy of your child's entire file from the school district you're leaving in Washington. Public schools throughout the US are notorious for lagging on getting the records over when a child relocates, especially out-of-state. Once you get your copy of the records, KEEP them ... forever!!! You never know when they may be needed, especially if something gets "lost" during the transfer from the old district to the new one. Even if it takes time to get the copies of the entire file (check with WA State Dept of Ed to see if there is a timeline mandated by state law), you should at least put together a packet the includes copies of your child's most recent assessments and his most current IEP. You should already have copies of these items and, if not, they should be readily on-hand at the school in Washington. They can't deliver special education to your child without them.Send them via FedEx or UPS ground or Certified Ma! il (so you have a tracking number and can verify delivery) to the attention of the receiving district's special education director in Chicago. You should find out who that is and specify that person by name on the envelope rather than just by title. The last thing you want to do is show up on the first day of school only to discover that they don't know you're child is on an IEP, much less have a copy of it to implement. Another consideration is one of semantics. References to various things throughout the current IEP may use relatively local jargon specific to Washington that may go by other names in Chicago. So, in your cover letter with your packet of materials to the special ed director in Chicago, request an IEP meeting to discuss the content of your child's IEP and to make sure everyone agrees on what the language of the IEP means. You don't want someone doing what they THINK the IEP is instructing them to do only to find out they misunderstood what they were su! pposed to be doing. As the parent, it's pretty much on you to! micro-manage this, though it shouldn't be. Also, I found the following on the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities website (link below in Sources):If a child with a disability (who had an IEP that was in effect in a previous public agency in another State) transfers to a public agency in a new State, and enrolls in a new school within the same school year, the new public agency (in consultation with the parents) must provide the child with FAPE (including services comparable to those described in the child’s IEP from the previous public agency), until the new public agency:•Conducts an evaluation pursuant to 34 CFR 300.304 through 300.306 (if determined to be necessary by the new public agency); and •Develops, adopts, and implements a new IEP, if appropriate, that meets the applicable requirements in 34 CFR 300.320 through 300.324.[34 CFR 300.323(f)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(2)(C)(i)(II)]To facilitate the transition for a child described in 34 CFR! 300.323(e) and (f):•The new public agency in which the child enrolls must take reasonable steps to promptly obtain the child’s records, including the IEP and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision of special education or related services to the child, from the previous public agency in which the child was enrolled, pursuant to 34 CFR 99.31(a)(2) [Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act regulations regarding conditions under which prior consent is not required to disclose information]; and•The previous public agency in which the child was enrolled must take reasonable steps to promptly respond to the request from the new public agency.[34 CFR 300.323(g)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(2)(C)(ii)]GOOD LUCK!!!!!...Show more

Marco Stolarz: Don't worry about that. When you register your child in the new school you will be asked where you are coming from. The old school will send his or her file over to the new school and that school will have all! records and your child will be placed in the correct classes. Remember! though you can take advantage of setting up meetings with the school psychologists in the form of IEP meetings. There you can discuss what classes your child needs or even if he or she was placed in the correct classes. Best of luck to you and your child....Show more

Garry Ohmen: You are worrying yourself over nothing . You simply enroll your child into a special ed class in Chicago thats all. Children are very resilient and can quickly bounce back as they have very little problem making new friends and getting adjusted to a new environment. It may be a bit hard at first but in a few weeks time everything will work itself out. Good luck with your move.

Lillie Yarde: Contact the state of IL they should be able to help

Sammy Kar: There isn't much difference. But, go to the school he is attending now and ask them just what you are to do.

Ruthe Real: Special education services follow your child from state to state. These services are governed by federal! law. Make sure you have in your possession, current copies of your child's due process paperwork, current IEP, and most current evaluation results. Carry these documents with you so that there is no delay in resuming services at the new school. If the new school needs additional information, they can contact your previous school for them. I suggest taking the records with you because sometimes school districts are notoriously slow regarding the forwarding of records....Show more

Clinton Migliori: Your child will have to have a Multi Disciplinary Staffing Conference MDSC to determine that he/she is eligible for Special Education Services. If you can find out the address of your new school, you should request the present school to send complete records of your child's school placements and staffings in Washington State. You will have to SIGN this request, and they will need time to send, so act on it NOW, to avoid timely delays in Illinois.