Transition to a New School with an IEP

Moving to a new school is difficult for most students. There are extra considerations to think about if your child has an IEP. Planning for the move can also be part of an IEP process, outlining an annual goal and specific responsibilities of team members and timelines to support the student. Every eligible student with a disability must have a current IEP at the beginning of the school year.

Provision of Special Education Services for Transfer Students- MDE Information includes timelines for students who transfer over the summer, transfers within the state, transfers from out of state, transfers with a pending evaluation, student records, and obtaining records.

Will the new school use my child’s IEP from the old school?

If you move within the same state, stay in the same school district, but your child will be going to a different school- In this case, the same school system is responsible for your child’s education, just in a different school. Your child’s IEP would be transferred to the new school and implemented as written.

If you move within the same state, but to a different school district- This means that a different district becomes responsible for your child’s education. That school system has the choice of adopting your child’s IEP as is or it can develop its own IEP for your child (with your involvement as a team member). Until it develops its own IEP, the new school system must provide FAPE to your child, including services comparable to those described in the IEP developed in the previous school district.

If you move to a different state altogether- A different school district has become responsible for educating your child. That new district must provide FAPE to your child, including services comparable to those described in the IEP from the previous state, until it conducts a full and individual evaluation of your child to determine if he or she is an eligible “child with a disability” in that state. The new district may decide that an evaluation isn’t needed, in which case it is not required to conduct one. Should the district decide to evaluate your child, it will need your permission as parents. If your child is found eligible for special education services in the new state, a new IEP will need to be developed according to local policies.

What if there is a delay?

Districts must have a way to determine if a student who enrolls over the summer is a student with a disability who has an IEP. At the beginning of the school year, each district must have an IEP in effect for each student with a disability.

There are no regulations addressing timelines for the transfer of such records. The new district has an obligation to ensure FAPE is provided and must take reasonable steps to promptly obtain the student’s records.

If the current IEP is not available, or if the new school district or the parent believes it is not appropriate, an IEP team meeting must be conducted. The IEP team meeting must take place within a short time after the student enrolls in the new school district (normally within one week).

Provision of Special Education Services for Transfer Students- MDE

More information at:

Moving to a New School CPIR
School Obligations to Maintain IEPs When Kids Move US Department of Education
Eleven tips for adjusting to a new school Great Schools

More Michigan Alliance for Families webpages related to other times of school transition:

Transition from Grade to Grade
Transition to a New School
Transition To Preschool
Transition to Kindergarten
Transition from Elementary to Middle School
Transition from Middle School to High School
Transition to Adulthood
Retention/Social Promotion