Early Intervention ends on your child's third birthday. Here is how Brooklyn families can plan the move to preschool special education so progress keeps going.

If your toddler has been receiving Early Intervention, you have probably watched a lot change in a year. New words appear, transitions get easier, and play starts to look different. Then someone mentions the third birthday, and a new set of letters shows up: CPSE, IEP, SEIT. For many families, the move from Early Intervention to SEIT services in Brooklyn is the first time they have to rebuild a support system from the ground up.

Two programs with two different jobs

Early Intervention serves children from birth to age 3 and is built around the family, often with a provider coaching parents during daily routines at home. Preschool special education for ages 3 to 5 is run through the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and is built around helping a child learn and take part in an educational setting. Your child's eligibility is decided again, so an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) does not simply roll over into an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Why starting early matters

Families are generally encouraged to begin the transition conversation with their EI service coordinator about six months before the third birthday. That window leaves time for a transition conference, a written referral to your district's CPSE, evaluations, and an IEP meeting. In most cases the family is the one who makes the CPSE referral, so keep copies of everything you sign and send.

What changes when an EI instructor becomes a SEIT

A Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) must be a New York State certified special education teacher employed by an agency approved by the New York State Education Department. Once SEIT is recommended on the IEP, the CPSE administrator arranges an approved agency, and the agency assigns a provider. The IEP spells out frequency, duration, location, and whether services are direct (working with your child) or indirect (consulting with the classroom teacher).

The focus also shifts. In EI, much of the work was coaching you. With SEIT, much of the work happens in a preschool or 3-K classroom, helping your child join group routines and helping teachers understand how your child learns.

A simple transition plan for 2026

  • About six months before age 3: ask your service coordinator to schedule the transition conference.
  • Four to five months before: send the written CPSE referral and sign evaluation consents.
  • Three months before: complete evaluations and gather recent EI progress notes.
  • Before the birthday: attend the IEP meeting and ask how and when services will start.

Families exploring SEIT services in Brooklyn can also apply to 3-K or pre-K while the CPSE process runs, since the two timelines work in parallel.

The emotional side of turning 3

Saying goodbye to a trusted EI provider is hard. Ask for a written summary of what has worked for your child, the words and visuals they respond to, and the strategies you use at home. Sharing that with the new SEIT helps the first weeks feel familiar rather than brand new.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child automatically get SEIT after Early Intervention?
No. The CPSE evaluates your child again and decides eligibility under preschool special education rules. SEIT is only provided if the IEP team recommends it.

Can my EI special instructor become my child's SEIT?
Sometimes, if that teacher holds the right certification and works for an approved SEIT agency that is assigned by the CPSE. You can share your preference, but it is not guaranteed.

Should I wait for the IEP before applying to 3-K?
No. Admissions and the CPSE process run separately, so it is usually wise to apply on time and let the IEP follow your child.

Can SEIT sessions happen on weekends?
Generally no. SEIT sessions run on weekdays during set daytime hours unless an agency has other state authorization, and not on state or national holidays.