Academics · Subject Resources

A good first morning
starts weeks before.

Starting preschool goes better when the room, the teacher and the goodbye are familiar before the first day. For a child leaving early intervention at three, there are also deadlines: a transition conference, an evaluation and an IEP by the third birthday. Add each child and the checklist counts the days.

Add a childWhat you get

Your children

The worked example is made up: M.K., leaving early intervention 70 days before turning three with the IEP still to come, and T.L., starting a morning preschool in three weeks. Saved on this device only; children are listed by initials.

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What you get

Academics · Subject ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A record per child: initials, birth date, where the child is coming from, the program, first day, hours a week, eleven preparation steps and three IDEA transition steps. Works out age in months at the start, days to the first day and days to the third birthday; flags early intervention deadlines, a near start with no visit and the goodbye routine.
Who it is for
Parents and guardians of children aged two to four, early intervention families and the child care and preschool staff who support them.
Format
Browser checklist with a saved record per child. Prints one child’s list, every child in a table or a blank sheet; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Subject Resources space in Caveat Academics.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Add the child by initials with the birth date and first day.
  2. Choose where the child is coming from.
  3. Work through the preparation steps over the weeks before.
  4. For early intervention, record the conference, consent and IEP.
  5. Practice the goodbye until it is short and the same each time.

Add a child

Leaving early intervention

From early intervention to preschool1Up to 9 months before 3The transition can be plannedthis early2At least 90 days before 3Transition conference with theschool district3EvaluationThe district evaluates, withthe parent’s written consent4EligibilityA team decides whether thechild qualifies under Part B5By the third birthdayIf eligible, an IEP is inplace6First dayServices start in thepreschool programFrom early intervention to preschool1Up to 9 months before 3The transition can be planned this early2At least 90 days before 3Transition conference with the schooldistrict3EvaluationThe district evaluates, with theparent’s written consent4EligibilityA team decides whether the childqualifies under Part B5By the third birthdayIf eligible, an IEP is in place6First dayServices start in the preschool program
Early intervention (Part C) ends at three; preschool special education (Part B) is run by the school district.

The goodbye

Most children cry at some drop-offs in the first weeks, and most settle within minutes of the parent leaving. A short, warm, predictable goodbye helps more than lingering. Ask the teacher how the morning went, and tell the child when you will be back in terms of the day: after snack, after outside time.

IDEA timelines

The 90-day conference and the IEP by the third birthday are federal requirements under IDEA. States run the programs and add their own procedures; the service coordinator knows the local steps and contacts.

Sources

  1. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C transition: 34 CFR 303.209 (transition conference at least 90 days, and up to nine months, before age three).
  2. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B: 34 CFR 300.124 (an IEP developed and implemented by the third birthday for eligible children).
  3. Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. Transition from Part C to Part B (ectacenter.org).
  4. Zero to Three and NAEYC family guidance on separation and starting child care and preschool (zerotothree.org, naeyc.org).

The worked examples are made up. State procedures add to the federal timelines; your service coordinator and school district are the authority for your child. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.