What families need to know to prepare for the transition
When districts announce school closures, many parents wonder what comes next. For families of special education students, this uncertainty can be even more stressful. If your child’s school is closing, there are steps you can take now to help make the transition smoother next fall.
Make Sure School Records Are Up to Date
If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan, consider requesting a meeting this spring before your current school closes. This can help ensure all services, supports, and accommodations are clearly written into the plan so a new school team can implement them right away.
“An IEP must pass the stranger test,” said Linda Taylor, retired special education director with the Paradise Valley Unified School District, referring to the idea that anyone should be able to understand a student’s IEP. “Whoever receives that IEP needs to know what to do on day one.” Taylor participated in school closures during her time with the district.
Sometimes teachers and school staff provide support that isn’t written into the IEP, Taylor noted. This could include allowing a student to take a break by walking down the hall or visiting the nurse when they feel overwhelmed. Ask your team whether any informal accommodations are being used and request that they be added to your child’s IEP.
You may want to request an update to the Present Level of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) section of the IEP, especially if your child has made significant progress or faced new challenges since the beginning of the school year. This provides a more accurate picture of your student.
You could also consider requesting another IEP meeting a few weeks into the new school year to review how things are going at the new site.
Share Information About Your Child
If you feel your child’s IEP is already up to date, you could ask their teacher or case manager to create a transition document. This might include helpful details such as:
- Likes and dislikes
- Sensory issues
- Successful accommodations
- Social stories or calming strategies
- Visual tools
This information can help the new team get to know your child more quickly, noted Amy Dill, early learning facilitator with the Kyrene School District. Kyrene recently announced plans to close three elementary schools for the 2026-27 school year.
Understand Location, Placement, and program changes
Location usually refers to the site or school name. Placement refers to the amount of time a student spends in the general education classroom, designated by letters A through D. Programs can have different names at different such as those for students with autism or social-emotional needs.
Placement changes must be discussed and decided upon by the IEP team, said Amanda Glass, managing attorney, education team, with Disability Rights Arizona. If you’re unsure about a proposed change, ask to see the data behind the recommendation and how the decision supports your child’s progress.
If your child has 1:1 paraprofessional written into their IEP, the district must continue providing that support at the new school. However, the specific staff member could change.
If a school is closing, it doesn’t mean a specific program is disappearing, said Todd Liolios, retired special education director from the Laveen Elementary School District. “The district must offer a continuum of options,” he added. While current staff and students might move together to a new site, it’s not guaranteed, and it’s good to ask about it. Staff changes can happen even when schools remain open due to retirement, transfers, or other factors.
Ask About Accessibility, Facilities, and Sibling Needs
If your child uses a wheelchair or other mobility equipment, or needs assistance with personal care, it’s important to learn how the new campus can accommodate these needs. Families may want to ask questions such as:
- Are playgrounds and buildings physically accessible?
- Is a private space available for students who need bathroom assistance?
- If a student has a sensory impairment (visual or hearing), is the proposed school site appropriately equipped for their needs and safety, such as Braille signs or visual fire alarms?
- Does the campus have a full-time nurse?
- Has the campus staff received necessary training to meet your child’s needs for CPR, medical equipment maintenance, seizures, or allergy response?
- Does the site have all the equipment your child’s IEP requires, such as adaptive seating, a Hoyer lift, or sensory tools?
If you believe the proposed school site cannot meet your child’s needs, you can ask the team to consider a different location.
Parents might also want siblings to stay together at a new school. Bring this up with your child’s IEP team if this is a concern. Although your child does not have a legal right to attend the same school as their sibling, Glass noted, it is something a district may consider during a major transition such as a school closure.
Identify Transportation Needs
Transportation can also be a concern when schools close, especially if the new school is farther away.
Public schools are not required to provide transportation unless it is included in a student’s IEP, though most school districts provide bus routes for their general education students. If a longer bus ride could affect your child due to medical or behavioral concerns, discuss this with the IEP team. Bring information about your child’s needs.
Ask whether options like specialized transportation, curb-to-curb service, or additional support on the bus, such as an aide or nurse, should be considered.
If your district currently doesn’t provide transportation services to your student but you feel it might be needed at the new site, you can request that the IEP team complete a transportation assessment, Glass said.
Beyond general education bus routes and curb-to-curb service for students with IEPs, districts can outsource transportation to private companies. In some situations, parents may request reimbursement from the district for transporting their child themselves. Approval of this option depends on the IEP team and district.
Transportation decisions are based on student needs, not family convenience, so it helps to come prepared with clear information about how your child’s disability may affect their ability to ride a standard bus, especially if the change results in a longer ride.
Visit the New School
Families can request a tour of the new school and bring their child if appropriate. When your child visits another school during school hours, it’s typically considered an excused absence. Arrange school visits through the front office or let them know you plan to visit.
Parents might also find it helpful to:
- Join the school’s parent-teacher organization social media page
- Attend spring events at the new school
- Talk with other parents at pickup or drop-off
These steps can help families get a feel for school culture before the transition.
Students may also benefit from visiting the campus before the school year starts so the environment becomes more familiar. While it might not be an official tour, Dill said, it could help a student learn the campus and build familiarity.
It’s also a good idea to establish the name, email address, and phone number of a primary contact at the new school until you have your child’s classroom and teacher assignment for next year. This gives you someone to contact if other questions arise.
Connect With Other Parents
District special education parent groups can also support families who are navigating school changes. Attending school board meetings can also help you stay informed about district decisions and future closures, and you can request to speak to address specific concerns.
Champions for Kids recently hosted an event with information about school closures, and a recording of this event is available. They have also created lists of questions families can ask during transitions. Both resources will be available on their website (https://azchampions.org/). Champions for Kids is a coalition of parents, special education attorneys, family support professionals, and disability-related organizations in Arizona.
“This is a new and unfamiliar issue for many parents,” said Jenny Mullins, co-founder and executive director of Champions for Kids. “We are trying to be proactive and support families in finding resources and answers to their questions.”
Explore Other Schooling Options
If the new school doesn’t feel like the right fit, families have other options. These include:
- Open enrollment within or outside your district
- Charter schools
- Private schools
- Using Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to fund private school or home education
- Homeschooling
Under current state law, students with disabilities who apply for open enrollment may be denied or asked to return to their zoned school if the receiving school determines it lacks programmatic capacity to meet the student’s special education needs, Glass noted.
Some families consider revoking consent for their student’s IEP in hopes of gaining more open enrollment options. However, if a parent revokes consent for special education, Glass warned their student will lose not only IEP services and accommodations but also legal protections related to dispute resolution and school discipline.
Help Your Child Prepare
School closures can be emotional for students and families. Some children benefit from talking about the change early and often, while others may do better with shorter conversations closer to the transition.
Families might also consider participating in closure rituals to help children prepare, Dill said. This could include taking photos of favorite places at school, creating a memory book, or writing thank-you notes to teachers. These small steps can help children process the change and look forward to what comes next.
The team at Encircle Families is also ready to help parents facing school closures. Contact us for assistance at 602-242-4366 or info@encirclefamilies.org.
