MY GUIDE > Choices After Your Child Leaves ECI

KEYWORDS: age 3 through 5ECIFirst Stepservices and transitions

Options after ECI

Early Childhood Intervention services (ECI) come to an end when a child turns 3 years old. You have choices about what kind of help and services you want for your child next. Some of these choices might include:

  • The Public School Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
  • A private preschool or child care
  • A mother’s day out program
  • Head Start
  • Home care from a parent or grandparent
  •  

Working with your IFSP team on the transition

When your child is between 27 and 33 months old, you will work with your Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team to develop a plan for the transition out of ECI. It will contain the transition steps and services that will help you and your child explore options, find out what services are offered within those options, and move into a new setting or program.

Also see Understanding the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and Tips for Planning a Smooth Transition.

Two basic paths after ECI

There are two basic types of transition plans. They will be based on your choices and what your child is eligible for:

  • Transition to an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
  • Transition to another program in your community

Your ECI service coordinator (or case manager) will support you and your child in following your transition plan to help you have a smooth transition out of ECI and into the next setting you have chosen.

More information

To learn more, visit the Texas Transition Network, Early Childhood Section.