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What happens when my child turns 3 and Early Intervention services end?

Produced by Massachusetts Law Reform Institute & Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts
Created February, 2022

Early Intervention services end when your child turns 3. But your child may still need special education services. If they still need services they may be able to get Early Childhood Special Education (“ECSE”).

By the time your child is 2 years 9 months the Early Intervention program should have told your school district that your child needs an evaluation.

early intervention timeline

When your child turns 2 years 3 months, ask the EI agency about the plan for when your child turns 3.

Before your child is 3 you may have 3 meetings about your child’s needs:

  1. A Transition Planning Conference (“TPC”) to discuss a plan for when your child turns 3 and EI ends.
  2. A meeting with the school after they get your child’s evaluations.  The meeting is to decide if your child qualifies for special education. EI agency staff attends this meeting also.
  3. Individualized Education Plan (“IEP”) meeting if your child qualifies.

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