PCS Prep & Your Child’s IEP

PCSing is stressful. Even when you do everything, it still ends up being stressful. Plans change, assignments change, babies get sick, anything can happen during PCS season! This stress is only heightened by the mental drain and worry of whether and how your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan will roll over to a new school, yet again. Although it won’t solve all challenges, preparing your child’s IEP to transition to a new school will help. I know how stressful PCSing is, and as a special education teacher, I hope the following steps can ease your PCS prep. 

Start with Strong Communication: PCS Prep Begins Before You Leave

First, you will want to have the most up-to-date information when you leave one school. As a parent, you have the right to request an IEP review at any time. Start off by communicating with the new school and IEP team as soon as possible. This will create a foundation for a strong, collaborative relationship. And most importantly, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask. You are the expert when it comes to your child.

Essential PCS Prep Steps for Special Education Families

As soon as you receive your PCS orders, begin the PCS prep process to ensure your child’s transition is smooth and well-supported.

Step 1: Update and Organize Your Child's IEP

Before leaving your current school:

• Request an IEP review to ensure the document reflects your child’s most current needs.

• Create both a digital and hard copy of your child’s school records.

• Download the free from Partners in PROMISE to stay organized.

Step 2: Begin Communication with the New School

Early and proactive communication is a vital part of your PCS prep:

• Contact the new school as soon as possible:

  • Reach out to the principal or special education director by email

  
  

• Find out:

  • Where to send your child’s IEP and file

  • The expected enrollment date

  • Who to contact for follow-up questions

  
  

• Once you receive contact information, use it to initiate communication and begin building relationships with school staff.

Step 3: Check for Advanced Enrollment Options

Some states allow advanced enrollment prior to your move. This can help expedite services for your child. Not sure if your receiving state allows this? to get started.

Step 4: Follow Up After Your PCS

Once you've relocated:

• Visit the school both informally and formally to begin forming connections.

• Confirm that the IEP and records were received and reviewed.

• Set up a preliminary meeting with the IEP team if desired.

• Ask about the district’s IEP processes, timelines, and when updates will occur.

The new school will reformat or rewrite your child’s IEP in accordance with district procedures, while maintaining compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

PCS Prep with an IEP

Update Their Current IEP

If your child’s IEP review was held in the fall, it would be advantageous to request another IEP before PCSing, especially if your child has experienced significant growth within that time or if circumstances have changed. If your child’s IEP is scheduled for the spring and nothing significant has changed, please touch base with your child’s teacher to determine if any updates are needed. Oftentimes, you probably know a PCS is coming even in January or February. If you have an IEP meeting in early spring, use that meeting to develop a detailed IEP that can transfer to the new school. Document anything that has worked well for your child or that definitely did not work. Anything that helps your child function throughout the day can and should be added as an attachment to the IEP if it doesn’t fit in another section. 

Make Copies of Their IEP

Create both digital and hard copies of your child’s IEP and school file. Add what is important to your child’s file. Consider using a timeline approach if you can. As a parent, you can add any information to your child’s file that will be transferred to the new school. You could add work samples, observatory data, email communication with the IEP team, etc. If your IEP team has established practices that work for your child, document these with dates and outcomes. This will help guide the new team, reducing trial and error for your child. 

Communicate with the New School

The sooner the new IEP team can review your child’s IEP, the sooner they can determine the best way to serve your child. Each school district implements special education services differently, so there is potential that your child’s school experience will look different from what it did previously. Having your child’s IEP sooner rather than later will help the school determine the best way to implement it, as they will have a chance to review and revise it using their district's paperwork. Any information is better than no information, especially when it comes to children who have higher needs. Additionally, don’t be afraid to start communicating with your child’s teacher. Starting off with strong communication can really help in creating a positive, collaborative, and trusting relationship between you and the teacher, which is the best outcome for your child. 

Visit the School

Moving from state to state or country to country poses additional challenges for special education families. As mentioned previously, every state does things differently when it comes to special education, but they all must follow the law (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). If you have questions or if something seems off, please schedule a free parent mentor consultation. You are now a member of that team, so speak up when things don’t make sense. If things are done differently than at the previous school, keep in mind that the team must abide by the procedures and systems established in their state or district, while also following federal law. To best meet your child’s needs, the team may require some time and creative brainstorming, of which you are an integral part. Keep communication open and remain mindful of your child’s rights and well-being. 

Be Open to New Strategies During PCS Prep

Additionally, a strategy or intervention that may not have been effective in one setting might be successful at a different time for your student. Don’t be too quick to push back against a new team’s attempts, but do communicate if something has been tried and not worked, as well as what has worked in the past. 

Build Trust with the IEP Team Through Communication

Try these conversation starters when you have questions or are feeling uneasy about your child’s new setting. They will help you gain answers as you establish an open, trusting relationship with the IEP team. 

• Can you please explain what that will look like?

• Could you elaborate on that more? 

• What will my child’s day look like? Can you please walk me through her schedule? 

• I would like to come observe my child’s classroom or experience at school. How can we make that happen? 

• In the past ______________ was an effective strategy. How can we work together to provide something similar?  (It helps to provide your data and can be what you documented in the last IEP or emails with teachers.) 

Final PCS Prep Tip: Stay Involved After the Move

Although it won’t solve all the challenges of PCSing, knowing your child’s IEP is up-to-date and ready for a transition to a new school will help. Research shows that your input and collaboration are immeasurable to the success of your child now and in the future. The new team will be grateful for your preparation and communication, and will be ready to welcome your child to their school.

About the Author

Jessica, a special education teacher, became a military wife and now stays home with her little ones as they grow. She holds a Master's Degree in Special Education and has completed the Master IEP Coach® Mentorship Program. She provides special education coaching and consulting services to families with IEPs, 504 plans, or those in the evaluation process. She supports parents in becoming their child's greatest advocate by building collaborative relationships, providing education on strategies for success at school and home, and assisting with transitions. She especially enjoys walking with fellow military families through their child’s educational journey as she fully understands the extra challenges.