If your child has been receiving Early Intervention, you may have heard that services end at age 3 — and felt a familiar knot of worry. What happens next? Will everything just stop? The good news: there’s a built-in bridge called the transition to CPSE, and with a little planning, your child doesn’t have to lose momentum.
Here’s what the handoff looks like in New York City, and how to make it smooth.
Why Early Intervention ends at 3
Early Intervention (EI) is a New York State program for children birth to age 3. On your child’s third birthday, they age out of EI. Children who still need support don’t just get dropped — they move into preschool special education, run through the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) at your local school district. In NYC, that’s the Department of Education.
What CPSE is
CPSE is the team that decides whether a child ages 3 to 5 is eligible for special education and, if so, what services they’ll receive. Think of it as the next chapter of the same story: instead of an IFSP (the family service plan used in EI), your child would have an IEP (Individualized Education Program).
Services through CPSE can include things like:
- Special education itinerant teacher (SEIT) support
- Speech, occupational, or physical therapy
- A preschool special-education classroom, when appropriate
When the transition starts
This is the part parents most often wish they’d known earlier: planning begins months before your child turns 3. Your EI service coordinator will talk with you about transition, and — with your consent — help refer your child to CPSE with enough runway to evaluate and put a plan in place. Starting early is what prevents a gap in services.
A rough timeline:
- Around 2 years 3 months–2 years 6 months: transition planning conversations begin.
- Before the 3rd birthday: referral to CPSE, evaluations, and an eligibility meeting.
- By age 3: if eligible, an IEP is in place so services can continue.
What’s different about CPSE
A few things change that are worth setting expectations around:
- Eligibility is decided fresh. CPSE has its own criteria and evaluation, separate from EI. Some children qualify; some don’t, and that’s not a reflection of your advocacy.
- Services may look different. The setting, frequency, or type of support can shift — often moving toward school-readiness goals.
- You’re still central. You’re a member of the CPSE team, you attend the meetings, and your input on your child’s needs matters.
How to prepare
- Say yes to transition planning early when your coordinator brings it up — the timeline is your friend.
- Keep your paperwork together: recent EI evaluations, your child’s IFSP, and any medical notes.
- Write down your goals for your child in plain language before the CPSE meeting.
- Ask questions. There’s no such thing as a silly one, and the process runs better when you understand each step.
Transitions feel big, but you’ve already done the hardest part — you noticed your child needed support and you showed up. This is simply the next step in keeping that support going.
Not yet connected to Early Intervention, or still have concerns before age 3? See if your child qualifies — a developmental evaluation is always free.
Star EIP is a New York State–approved Early Intervention agency serving children birth–age 3 across all five NYC boroughs.
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