Does Early Steps need my permission to tell the school district about my child?

Not for the basic notice. The handbook says parental consent is not required for Early Steps to send the district and FDOE your child's name, birth date and your contact details, but you can opt out in writing before the notification date. Sharing records beyond that needs your consent.

Does the district evaluation start automatically after the notice?

No. The district must ask for your written consent before it evaluates. The 60-calendar-day evaluation clock starts when the district receives your signed consent, so return the form promptly and keep a copy with the date.

My child turns 3 in July. When do school services start?

For a summer birthday, Rule 6A-6.03028(3)(e) lets the IEP team decide when services under the IEP will begin. Ask at the IEP meeting whether extended school year services or an earlier start date apply, and get the date in writing.

Can the Early Steps service coordinator come to the IEP meeting?

Yes, if you ask. Florida's IEP rule says the invitation to the initial IEP meeting must be sent to the Part C service coordinator at the parent's request, and the handbook says the coordinator must make a reasonable effort to attend.

Early Steps Transition at Age 3: Florida Checklist

Early Steps, Florida's early intervention program, serves children from birth to 36 months. Services end by the third birthday, so every family in Early Steps goes through a hand-off. For most autistic children that hand-off is to the local school district's Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities. The law sets a clear timeline for it, and knowing the dates ahead of time is the simplest way to avoid a gap in support. This checklist walks through the transition month by month, using the Early Steps Policy Handbook (updated 14 October 2026), section 391.308 of the Florida Statutes and the State Board of Education's IEP rule.

When does the Early Steps transition start?

Earlier than many parents expect. Three dates matter:

Up to 9 months before the third birthday: the earliest point at which the transition plan and the transition conference can happen, if everyone agrees. The handbook says the IFSP transition plan must be completed "not fewer than 90 days and, at the discretion of all parties, not more than 9 months before the child's third birthday" (Policy 7.1.2).
At least 90 days before the third birthday: the latest point. By then the local Early Steps office must start transition planning, notify the school district and the Florida Department of Education (unless you opt out), and, with your approval, hold a transition conference with a district representative (s. 391.308(7)).
By the third birthday: the district must have an IEP, or an IFSP under Rule 6A-6.03029, "developed and implemented" (Rule 6A-6.03028(3)(e)1.).

Early Steps services themselves stop at the third birthday. The handbook says "Early Steps services must be terminated by the child's third birthday" (Policy 6.11.3), with narrow exceptions such as the service coordinator attending the first IEP meeting.

A worked example: what the dates look like

This is an illustration only. Your local office and district set the actual dates. Say your child turns 3 on 15 June 2027.

Example transition timeline for a child turning 3 on 15 June 2027
When	What happens	Source
From 15 September 2026 (9 months before)	Earliest date for the transition plan and conference, if all parties agree	Handbook 7.1.2, 7.3.1
By 17 March 2027 (90 days before)	Transition planning starts; district and FDOE notified unless you opted out; transition conference held with your approval	s. 391.308(7); Handbook 7.2.1, 7.3.1
Spring 2027	District evaluation (60 calendar days from your consent, not counting excluded days), eligibility decision, then the IEP within 30 calendar days of eligibility	Rule 6A-6.0331(3)(g); Rule 6A-6.03028(3)(f)2.
By 15 June 2027	IEP or IFSP developed and implemented. Because this birthday is in summer, the IEP team decides when services start	Rule 6A-6.03028(3)(e)

Notice how tight the spring is. A district evaluation can take up to 60 calendar days after you sign consent, and the IEP can come up to 30 days after eligibility. If your child has a spring or summer birthday, ask early in the year when the district will evaluate.

What is the "notification," and can I opt out?

At least 90 days before the third birthday, Early Steps tells your school district and the Department of Education that your child may be eligible for preschool services. The notice contains only your child's name, date of birth, and parent contact details (Handbook 7.2.2). The handbook says "Parental consent is not required" for this notice; it is sent unless you object (Policy 7.2.1).

You can opt out in writing with the Notification Opt-Out Form. If you sign it, the notice is not sent (Policy 7.2.6). Opting out does not stop you from contacting the district yourself later. Sharing anything more than the basic notice, such as evaluations or the IFSP, needs your separate consent (Policy 7.2.8).

Turning 3 checklist for parents

9 to 6 months before the birthday

Ask your service coordinator when the transition conference will be. It can be combined with an IFSP meeting (Policy 7.1.3).
Decide whether you want the district invited. The district representative is invited only with your approval (Policy 7.3.2).
Start a folder: the current IFSP, every evaluation, hearing and vision screenings, any autism diagnosis report and notes from private therapists.
Read about the district program in our guide to the Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities.

6 to 3 months before

Attend the transition conference. Ask what evaluations the district will do, who will do them, and the expected dates.
Sign consent for Early Steps to send the district your records if you want them shared. With consent, the referral packet includes the current IFSP, evaluations and assessments from the past 6 months, and hearing and vision screenings from the past 6 months (Policy 7.5.2).
When the district asks for evaluation consent, sign and date it, and keep a copy. The 60-calendar-day clock starts when the district receives your consent.
Tell the district if you want the Early Steps service coordinator invited to the first IEP meeting. Rule 6A-6.03028(3)(c)10. says the invitation "must, at the request of the parent, be sent."

The last 3 months

Attend the eligibility meeting. Florida rules let a child qualify under autism spectrum disorder or under the developmentally delayed category; see developmentally delayed eligibility.
Attend the IEP meeting and bring the people who know your child. You may invite others "who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the student" (Rule 6A-6.03028(3)(c)7.), such as a private BCBA.
Confirm the IEP start date in writing, especially for a summer birthday.
Our Florida IEP guide explains what goes into the IEP and your rights at the meeting.

What if my child was referred to Early Steps close to age 3?

Two rules apply:

Referred fewer than 45 days before the third birthday: Early Steps, with your consent, refers your child to the school district and FDOE, but "is not required to conduct an evaluation/assessment, determine eligibility or develop an initial IFSP" (Policy 2.3.7). In practice you go straight to the district. You can also contact the district or your local FDLRS center yourself.
Found eligible more than 45 but fewer than 90 days before the birthday: the local office must notify the district and FDOE "as soon as possible" after the eligibility decision (Policy 7.2.4).

If your child is 2 and a half or older and you have concerns, do not wait. Refer to Early Steps now, and see how to request a preschool evaluation from the district so the school side starts on time.

Can my child stay in Early Steps after age 3?

Not at this time. Florida law (s. 391.3081) created an Early Steps Extended Option to the school year after the fourth birthday, but the Early Steps eligibility page says the program "does not have the resources required to implement the Extended Option for the upcoming fiscal year." Plan for the age-3 hand-off. Read more in what happened to the Extended Option.

What if my child is not eligible for the district program?

If the district finds your child not eligible, Early Steps and the district must give you written information on other services and community resources (s. 391.308(7)(e)). For children who may not qualify for the district program, Early Steps must, with your approval, make reasonable efforts to hold a conference with other providers before the third birthday (Policy 7.4.1), and refer your child with consent to options such as Head Start or other early care and education programs (Policy 7.6.1). You also have the right to disagree with a district evaluation and ask for an independent educational evaluation.

Where does ABA fit during the transition?

Private ABA (applied behavior analysis) is separate from both Early Steps and the school district. Many families keep or start ABA during the move to preschool, often paid by health insurance. A BCBA can share data and goals with the IEP team, and Hope Center staff can join IEP meetings where the school allows it. ABA does not replace the district's duty to provide a free appropriate public education.

Hope Center has no waitlist, and services usually start 3 to 5 business days after insurance approves the treatment plan. We work with Florida Blue, Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East, and offer self-pay with a sliding scale. If your child is approaching 3, contact us for a free consultation and benefits check, or call 561-337-8865. You can also read about our early intervention ABA.

This guide is general information for Florida families, not medical, legal or financial advice for your child. Laws, plan rules and program amounts change; check with your plan, the agency named, or a Florida attorney before you act.

Turning 3: The Early Steps-to-School Transition Checklist