Does my child need an IEP in preschool?

An IEP is an outline of services and supports that the school or district will provide at no cost to the student’s family to ensure their needs are met. All students who receive special education services must have an IEP — and all IEPs must ensure that the student has access to a free, appropriate public education (FAPE). When your child is about two and a half years old, your Regional Center service coordinator will ask for your written consent to send your local school district a referral packet, which may contain the following:

• Your child’s Individual Family Service Plan
• Early intervention reports
• Recent assessments and progress reports from other providers

Once eligibility is determined, you should receive a request from the school or district inviting you to the IEP meeting.

For more information about writing an IEP for your preschooler, check out our article The Preschool Transition: Choosing a School and Preparing for Your First IEP.