Kansas Early Childhood Special Education: From Tiny-K to Preschool IEP

If your child is under three and receiving early intervention services through Kansas's tiny-k program, or if your child is approaching their third birthday and you're trying to figure out what happens next, you're at one of the most consequential transition points in special education.

The shift from Part C (infants and toddlers) to Part B (school-age services) isn't automatic, and it doesn't work the same way in every state. Kansas has specific timelines, requirements, and transition protocols that parents need to understand before that third birthday arrives.

What Is Kansas Tiny-K?

Kansas administers Part C of IDEA through the "tiny-k" network — Kansas Infant-Toddler Services. This program serves children from birth through age two who have developmental delays or established conditions with a high probability of causing developmental delays.

Under Part C, your child has an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) rather than an IEP. The IFSP is family-centered, meaning it considers the needs of the whole family, not just the child. Services under tiny-k are designed to be provided in the child's natural environment — typically at home or in a regular childcare setting — rather than in a clinical or school setting.

Tiny-k services can include speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vision and hearing services, nutritional support, family training and counseling, and service coordination. These services are provided through a network of contractors and community partners, and a service coordinator manages your child's plan.

The Transition at Age 3: What Kansas Requires

When your child approaches their third birthday, the Part C system must transition them to either Part B services (school-based special education) or to other community resources if they don't qualify for school-based services. This is a highly regulated process in Kansas.

The transition planning conference: Under Kansas law, tiny-k must convene a transition planning conference at least 90 days before your child turns three. A representative from your local school district must be invited to this conference and legally required to attend. This is the point where the school district first gets formally involved.

Evaluation under Part B standards: To qualify for Part B preschool services, your child must undergo an evaluation using the IDEA eligibility standards — not the early intervention standards. These are different. A child who qualifies under Part C may or may not qualify under Part B. The eligibility categories under Part B are the 13 IDEA disability categories (including Developmental Delay, which Kansas allows up to a certain age), plus Kansas's state-specific inclusion of Gifted students.

The 60-school-day evaluation timeline: Once you give written consent for the Part B evaluation, Kansas's 60-school-day clock starts. The district must complete the evaluation, determine eligibility, and have an IEP implemented — all by day 60.

The IEP must be in place by the third birthday: If your child is found eligible for Part B services, the IEP must be in effect on their third birthday. Not the following Monday. Not "as soon as we can schedule a meeting." On the actual birthday.

There is one exception: if the third birthday falls during the summer months, the IEP team can decide when services will begin, but they cannot be delayed past the start of the following school year.

What Happens If Your Child Doesn't Qualify for Part B

Not every child who received Part C services will qualify for Part B. The eligibility standards are stricter. If the district determines your child is not eligible, they must provide you with a Prior Written Notice explaining their decision and the data they relied on.

If you disagree with the eligibility determination, you have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation at public expense. The district must either fund the independent evaluation or file for due process to defend their own evaluation findings.

Children who don't qualify for Part B may still be eligible for:

• Section 504 accommodations if they have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity
• General preschool programs with informal supports
• Community-based early childhood programs

What Part B Preschool Services Look Like in Kansas

Part B preschool special education in Kansas serves children ages 3-5 with documented disabilities. Services are provided through local school districts, often in collaboration with Head Start programs, community preschools, or district-run early childhood classrooms.

The IEP for a preschool-age child looks different from an IEP for a school-age child. Goals focus on developmental areas — communication, cognitive skills, social-emotional development, self-help skills, and motor skills. The Least Restrictive Environment requirement applies: your child should be educated alongside typically developing peers to the maximum extent appropriate.

Location of services: Kansas allows preschool special education to be provided in a range of settings:

• The child's natural environment (home or childcare)
• Community preschool or Head Start classrooms
• District early childhood classrooms
• Specialized programs for children with more intensive needs

Parents sometimes face pressure to accept a self-contained special education preschool when their child could be appropriately served in a less restrictive setting. The district must document why a more restrictive placement was chosen over a less restrictive one. If you believe your child can be appropriately educated in a community preschool with services, make that argument at the IEP meeting.

Developmental Delay as an Eligibility Category

Kansas allows school districts to use "Developmental Delay" as an eligibility category for young children, rather than requiring a specific disability label like Autism or Speech/Language Impairment. This can be helpful for children who clearly have significant delays but haven't yet been diagnosed with a specific condition.

The Developmental Delay category avoids labeling young children with a permanent disability classification when the nature of their delays isn't yet fully understood. However, at some point — typically as the child approaches school age — the district may expect a reevaluation to determine whether a more specific eligibility category applies.

Common Problems at the Age-3 Transition

The transition isn't started early enough. If tiny-k doesn't initiate the transition planning conference at least 90 days before the third birthday, the timeline for evaluation and IEP development can get compressed. Parents should proactively ask their service coordinator: "When is the transition planning conference scheduled? Has the school district been invited?"

Parents don't realize they need to give written consent separately for the Part B evaluation. Participating in tiny-k does not automatically authorize the school district to conduct a Part B evaluation. You'll need to sign a separate consent form. Ask when to expect it.

Services change dramatically at age 3. Part C services are often more intensive and more individualized than what school districts typically provide. Some families experience a significant reduction in therapy hours at age 3 and are shocked that the school isn't obligated to match what tiny-k provided. The school's obligation is to provide what's educationally necessary under IDEA, not to replicate the Part C service level.

Summer birthdays. If your child turns three in June, July, or August, the IEP team has to decide whether summer services will be provided or whether services will start at the beginning of the school year. This isn't optional discretion — the decision must be made by the IEP team with your participation, and services cannot be delayed past the start of the school year.

Resources for Kansas Families in the Early Childhood System

Kansas tiny-k (Infant-Toddler Services): Your service coordinator is your primary contact. KSDE's Early Childhood, Special Education and Title Services (ECSETS) team oversees the program statewide.

Families Together, Inc.: Kansas's federally designated Parent Training and Information center provides free guidance on the Part C to Part B transition. Helpline: (800) 264-6343. Spanish line: (800) 499-9443.

Disability Rights Center of Kansas: Provides advocacy resources and self-advocacy guides for families. Helpline: (877) 776-1541.

The Kansas IEP & 504 Blueprint covers the full eligibility and IEP development process under Part B, including how to navigate the evaluation timeline and how to document disagreements if the district's Part B eligibility findings don't match what you observed in your child. Get the complete guide at /us/kansas/iep-guide.

What to Do Right Now If Your Child Is Approaching Age 3

If your child is currently receiving tiny-k services and will turn three within the next 6 months:

1. Contact your service coordinator and ask: "When is the transition planning conference scheduled, and has the local school district been invited?"
2. Make sure you understand that the Part B evaluation requires separate written consent from you
3. Ask the school district when they plan to complete the evaluation and have an IEP ready
4. Document any concerns you have about your child's development in writing so they're part of the evaluation record

The age-3 transition is not a cliff — it's a regulated process with specific timelines that protect your child's right to continuous services. Knowing those timelines in advance is the best way to make sure they're followed.

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