A recent question asked of the advocate was: Will my child still have her IEP when we move to a new school district and will she get the same services?  The answer to this question has been taken right from the annotated IEP which can be found on the www.pattan.net web site.


IEP’s for children who transfer schools within Pennsylvania:  If a student with a disability (who had an IEP that was in effect in a previous LEA (Local Education Agency within PA) transfers to a new LEA and enrolls in a new school within the same school year, the new LEA (in consultation with the parents) must provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to the student  (including services comparable to those described in the student’s IEP from the previous public agency) until the new LEA:

• Adopts the student’s IEP from the previous LEA; OR
• Develops, adopts, and implements a new IEP

IEPs for children who transfer from another State:  If a student with a disability (who had an IEP that was in effect in a previous LEA in another State) transfers to an LEA in PA and enrolls in a new school within the same school year, the new LEA (in consultation with the parents) must provide the student with FAPE (including services comparable to those described in the student’s IEP from the previous LEA) until the new LEA:

• Conducts an evaluation and completes an Evaluation Report (if determined necessary by the new LEA); And
• Develops, adopts, and implements a new IEP if appropriate

To ensure a smooth transition, the new LEA (where the student enrolls) must make reasonable attempts to promptly obtain the student’s educational records, including the IEP and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision FAPE to the student, from the previous LEA where the student was enrolled; and the previous LEA where the student was enrolled must take reasonable steps to promptly respond to the new LEA’s request for educational records.

It will be important for parents to check with the new school to make sure records arrive and that their child’s IEP is being followed, as well as helping to identify any unmet needs that might occur as the result of changing schools and Curriculum, Social or Physical differences in the new school.

Pattan.net has a number of forms and documents on their website, which can help parents understand what information should be included in things like IEP’s, Evaluation Reports, Communication Plans, and Positive Behavioral Support Plans.  Take a few minutes and check them out.