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Transitioning a student back to school from an extended absence requires care, communication, and coordination.  Effective transitioning requires a system of care that involves teaming and collaboration among school staff, family members, and community providers (e.g. hospital staff, psychiatrists, physicians, etc.).

Communication is essential among all those involved to promote a shared understanding and to help develop and implement a plan that appropriately meets your child's needs to ensure for a successful transition.

School-based professionals, consisting of school counselors, school nurse and health clinic specialists, school psychologists, school social workers, and school administrators are available to support the transition process as your child returns to the school learning environment. These professionals will work with you, your treatment provider, and other members of the school to develop a plan for your child's return to school.

The transition plan will be used to support students who are transitioning back to school from a long-term absence due to a variety of reasons (such as but not limited to physical illness, mental health treatment, concussion, hospitalization, residential treatment, etc.).  The transition team will work with you and the treatment provider to determine the student's needs based on the current level of functioning and develop a plan of support.

1. Contact your child's school counselor or assigned Transition Contact who will work with you to support your child's learning while your child is out of school. The counselor will also work with you as your child prepares to return to school following an extended absence.

2. Work with your child's school team to schedule a meeting to develop a plan for your child's return to school. The plan will specifically address your child's needs and any accommodations and supports to instruction that are necessary for your child's transition.

3. Provide written permission to communicate with the treatment provider.  All information received by LCPS is considered confidential and protected under Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

NOTE: If your child has been absent for more than 15 consecutive days and is not receiving homebound instruction, you must re-enroll your child in school. To be re-enrolled, a parent must accompany the student to school and meet with your school's registrar.

The Transition Plan should be developed during the scheduled transition meeting. The plan should identify 1) the school-based staff who will be assigned to implement and monitor the plan and 2) the specific supports needed as attendance, stamina, and academic engagement increase. Copies of the written plan will be provided to teachers and other relevant staff in order to support implementation.

The transition plan takes into account three related concepts that should be considered in order to develop a thorough and effective transition plan:

• Attendance & Stamina: The plan will address your child's capacity to attend school and to participate in classroom activities with the goal of increasing attendance and participation over time;

• Academic Engagement: The plan will address your child's ability to complete work, spend time on class work and homework, and handle the type and difficulty of work with the goal of increasing expectations during recovery; and

• Level of Support: The plan will consider the supports needed to support attendance, classroom participation, and academic engagement with the goal of decreasing the level of supports needed.