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Elementary to Junior High Transition

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Learn what to expect as your child transitions from elementary school to junior high school.

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Slide 1: Welcome. My name is Cindy Kozlowski with the Santa Clarita Valley Special Education Local Plan Area (or SELPA), and I am here to guide you through the special education transition process from elementary to junior high school. The information I am presenting was put together by the special education staff at the William S. Hart Union High School District and I am grateful for their contributions. I went through this transition process with my own child and I know it may seem overwhelming. Be assured, you have a team available to support you through this process along with other special education and community resources.

Slide 2: You might be thinking, what is “transition”? It is a movement, development or evolution from one form, stage or style to another. Remember, transition is a “process which occurs over time…it’s not just something that happens on one specific date or at one specific snapshot in time.” You will also hear the word “matriculate” to mean advancing in school. Students transition, or matriculate, from preschool to kindergarten, elementary to junior high school, and junior high school to high school.

Slide 3: In this video, you will learn what to expect as your child transitions from elementary to junior high school. This can be an exciting time, and also a concerning time, for students and families. Many students look forward to increased independence, making new friends, and participating in new activities. Some concerns may include unfamiliar people, new expectations, new rules, and a more social atmosphere in junior high. Parents, and guardians, will continue to watch their child grow socially and academically but also see their child experience new changes and milestones. Personal changes are also taking place physically, emotionally, and socially. These changes may magnify other challenges children experience during this time.
Remember to give your child some time to adjust to the many transitions taking place.

This video will also help you gain an understanding of the transition/matriculation process, partnerships, and the supports and resources available to students, and their families, during this transition.

Slide 4: In the Santa Clarita Valley, four elementary school districts feed into the William S. Hart Union High School District. With a few exceptions, students living in the Castaic area will stay with the Castaic Union School District through 8th grade and join the Hart District for high school beginning in 9th grade. Newhall, Saugus, and Sulphur Springs District students will transition to the Hart District for junior high in 7th grade.

Slide 5: Typically, from elementary school, Hart District students transition to their junior high school of residence, sometimes referred to as their “home school” or “neighborhood school.” However, some students may have more specialized needs (some examples of this would be academic needs, environmental access to classroom or school environment, unique medical needs or healthcare status) – They may transition to a junior high school that provides those
 
services which are not available at their school of residence. Parents, or Guardians, of children in the Hart District may also apply for an intra-district transfer to request attendance at a school other than their school of residence within the Hart District; there are specific guidelines for intra-district transfers to be granted. If you would like additional information about intra-district transfers, it is available on the Hart District website or you can call the Student Services department with Hart District (we will provide you with the website, and phone number, at the end of this video). For Castaic Union School District, all 7th and 8th grade students attend Castaic Middle School (and this is the location for their special education programs and services).

Slide 6: Now, let’s review the transition/matriculation process, which begins early in the fall, when your child is in 6th grade. This allows the junior high schools to anticipate the number of students they can expect in the upcoming year. It also helps staff to plan for Matriculation Individualized Education Program (or IEP) meetings to be held in the spring of your child’s 6th grade school year.

Before sharing your child’s information with the Hart District, your elementary school district will ask you to sign a document called a “Mutual Exchange of Information Authorization”. This allows your elementary school district to share information about your child’s IEP with the junior high school. If your child is with Castaic Union School District, they will remain with the same school district for junior high school, so no “Mutual Exchange of Information Authorization” needs to be signed.

Matriculation IEP meetings provide an opportunity for parents, or guardians, to meet some of the staff members from the junior high school who will be part of their child’s IEP team.

The meetings are typically scheduled in the spring of your child’s 6th grade school year – this is prior to your child’s transition from elementary school to junior high school.

You should plan for the Matriculation IEP meeting to last about 30 minutes, unless otherwise stated on your IEP meeting appointment notice or by your child’s Case Manager.

SLIDE 7: Some of the special education service providers from the junior high school (will be present at the Matriculation IEP meeting to answer questions as to how special education services will be provided at the new school. For example, if your child currently receives what are called “related services”, such as speech and language therapy, or occupational therapy, a representative from that specialty at the junior high school will be present at the Matriculation IEP meeting.

SLIDE 8: Parents, and guardians, also have responsibilities during this process. You must attend the Matriculation IEP meeting. You will be notified by your child’s current case manager (which might be their special education teacher, or primary service provider) of the proposed Matriculation IEP meeting date and time with Hart District (or Castaic Middle School staff, as
 
appropriate). It is important to keep the scheduled time; if you need to change the meeting for any reason, please let your child’s case manager know right away. The Matriculation IEP meetings may be held in-person or by teleconference, such as Zoom or Google Meets.

Your child may also attend the Matriculation IEP meeting with you - just be sure to let their case manager know this in advance of the meeting.

Think about questions you may have regarding your child transitioning to junior high school. You are encouraged to write down your questions, so you won’t forget them during the meeting.

SLIDE 9: A sample agenda for the Matriculation IEP meeting includes:
●	Purpose of the meeting
●	Introductions of attendees
●	Review of your child’s eligibility for special education and current elementary school related supports and services. Some examples include Resource Specialist Program, Assistive Technology, speech and language therapy, and accommodations.
●	Description of the junior high school’s special education programs, as well as related supports and services.
●	Input and discussion within your child’s team – and as a reminder, you, the parent, are a very important part of that team - all of whom will be participating in the Matriculation IEP meeting.
●	Offer of Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and related supports and services.
●	Percentage of time your child will be in the general education setting versus receiving special education support or services in a setting outside of the general education classroom.

SLIDE 10: We understand that this time of transition for your child can be exciting and concerning at the same time. It is important to have open communication with your child and with their IEP team. If you have questions prior to the Matriculation IEP meeting, you can contact your child’s current Case Manager, your elementary school district’s matriculation coordinator or the Hart District matriculation coordinator. As a reminder, if you are in Castaic Union School District, it would be the Castaic Middle School Matriculation coordinator.

Slide 11: You will find that your child’s new school may have some additional supports, such as junior high “Round-ups” or “Kick-off” events. These events allow your child to become familiar with their new school and meet new friends, so be sure your child attends! Some programs may offer “Meet and Greet” events to allow your child time to meet some of the school staff they’ll see on campus.  Your child will receive their class schedule close to the first day of school through the school district’s Student Portal.

Slide 12: As mentioned previously, if you have any questions or concerns about this transition process, please reach out to your child’s case manager. School administrators, and school
 
district program specialists, can also assist with answering questions. Additional resources available to support you during this time include:

•	The William S. Hart Union High School District website, and phone number.
•	The Santa Clarita Valley Special Education Local Plan Area (or SELPA) website – as indicated on your screen, under the Resources tab – provides special education, and community, resources.
•	If your child is a North Los Angeles County Regional Center consumer, you may also reach out to your child’s consumer service coordinator to determine how the transition process into junior high with the school district may impact Regional Center services.
•	Lastly, the Family Focus Resource and Empowerment Center, as indicated on your screen, can provide parent-to-parent support, resources and information on the special education elementary to junior high school process.

Slide 13: Remember…Collaboration, communication, and building relationships contributes to successful transitions for students – including your child!

You, as the parent/guardian, are a very important part of your child’s team and in the words of Henry Ford: “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”

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