Part C to Part B Transition in Nevada: What Happens When Your Child Turns Three

Your child has been receiving early intervention services — speech therapy, developmental support, maybe occupational therapy — and it has been working. Then someone at the program mentions the words "transition conference" and you realize that at age three, everything is about to change. The state agency providing those services will hand off to the public school system, your child's Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) will no longer apply, and whether your child continues receiving meaningful support depends almost entirely on how well you navigate the next few months.

This is the Part C to Part B transition, and in Nevada, the process has specific timelines, specific players, and specific failure points that parents need to understand before they get there — not after.

What Part C and Part B Actually Mean

Part C and Part B refer to two separate parts of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Part C governs early intervention services for children from birth through age three. In Nevada, Part C services are administered through the Nevada Early Intervention Services (NEIS) program, which sits under the Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD). NEIS funds and coordinates the services your child has been receiving.

Part B governs special education for children ages three through twenty-one. Once your child turns three, responsibility shifts to your local school district — either the Clark County School District (CCSD), Washoe County School District (WCSD), or your rural district. If your child is eligible under Part B, the IFSP is replaced by an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and your family moves from NEIS to the public school system.

The transition is not automatic. It requires a sequence of steps, and the Part B evaluation and eligibility determination are not guaranteed to be complete before the third birthday.

The Transition Timeline: What Nevada Requires

For a child potentially eligible for Part B, federal law requires transition notification and the transition conference no fewer than 90 days before the third birthday; states may permit earlier timing, up to nine months for the conference. In Nevada, that means the following must happen:

Step 1 — Transition Conference (at least 90 days before third birthday): Your NEIS service coordinator must schedule a transition conference with your approval and invite the local school district. This meeting is not an IEP meeting — it is a planning meeting to discuss what happens next and to ensure the district is notified of the upcoming transition.

Step 2 — Notification and referral to the School District: For a child potentially eligible for Part B, the lead agency notifies the state educational agency and the local educational agency unless the parent opts out under the applicable policy. The LEA treats the Part C notification as an initial referral under Part B, and the lead agency may share updated assessment information and the IFSP with parent consent.

Step 3 — Evaluation (45 school days from signed consent): Once you sign the district's evaluation consent form, Nevada law requires the district to complete the initial evaluation within 45 school days, subject to specified exceptions and a possible Superintendent extension of up to 15 school days. This timeline is calculated in school days, so it does not count weekends, holidays, or school breaks unless they are scheduled school days under the regulation. Given that third birthdays fall throughout the year, the timing of the referral matters enormously — a referral made too close to winter break can eat up weeks of buffer.

Step 4 — Eligibility Determination and IEP Development: If your child is found eligible for special education, the IEP must be developed within 30 calendar days. The IEP must be in place by your child's third birthday, and services begin on the IEP's effective date.

If the evaluation is delayed, the IEP may not be in place by the third birthday even though the third-birthday requirement remains the benchmark for an eligible child. The Part B evaluation itself is not guaranteed to be complete before that date.

What the Evaluation Looks Like Under Part B

Part B evaluation is more comprehensive than early intervention assessment. The school district must evaluate your child across all areas of suspected disability using standardized assessments administered by a multidisciplinary team.

To be eligible for an IEP, your child must meet two criteria: they must qualify under one of Nevada's 13 disability categories under NAC Chapter 388, and their disability must require specially designed instruction.

One critical Nevada-specific rule: Nevada restricts the Developmental Delay category to children under age 6, not age 9 as federal law permits. Many children transitioning from Part C carry a Developmental Delay designation. If the district determines that category no longer applies at age three, they must evaluate whether another category — such as Speech or Language Impairment, ASD, or Intellectual Disability — fits. Ask the district directly how they plan to handle this before the evaluation is complete.

What Changes When Your Child Moves to Part B

Family-centered to child-centered focus. Part C services are designed around the family's routines and priorities. Part B IEPs focus on the child's educational needs and measurable goals. Your role shifts from primary service recipient to IEP team member.

Service delivery location changes. Part C services are often delivered at home. Part B services are typically school-based. Related services like speech therapy will be provided during the school day at a school site.

Private therapy coordination. Part C service coordinators help families connect with multiple providers. Part B does not include case coordination in the same way — if your child is receiving private therapy, you will manage that coordination yourself.

Frequency and intensity may change. Districts must provide FAPE, but not necessarily the same hours of therapy your child received under Part C. If the district proposes fewer service minutes, ask for the assessment data supporting that reduction.

What to Watch for in Nevada's Districts

In CCSD: Evaluation backlogs can push the 45-school-day timeline to its limit, particularly for referrals made in the fall. Submit your consent form as early as possible and track the calendar from the date you sign — not the date the district acknowledges receipt.

In WCSD: Washoe County has experienced severe psychologist shortages, with single evaluators reportedly responsible for up to 350 students across multiple schools. If you are approaching the 45-school-day deadline without a scheduled evaluation appointment, put your concern in writing immediately.

In rural districts: Some rural districts contract with itinerant specialists who visit on limited schedules. Ask the district who will conduct each portion of the evaluation and when those appointments are scheduled.

What You Should Do Before the Transition Conference

Ideally 4 to 6 months before your child's third birthday:

Request all records from NEIS — the current IFSP, all evaluation reports, and progress notes. You will share these with the school district at the transition conference.

Write down your observations. Document concrete examples of how your child's disability affects daily functioning. This will inform the PLAAFP in the eventual IEP.

Prepare questions for the conference. Ask which assessments the district plans to conduct, who will administer them, and how the 45-school-day timeline will be managed around school breaks.

Know your rights. If the district evaluates your child and determines they are not eligible under Part B, you have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense if you disagree with the findings. The district must, without unnecessary delay, either fund the IEE or file for due process to defend its evaluation.

The Nevada IEP & 504 Blueprint at /us/nevada/iep-guide/ covers Nevada-specific evaluation timelines, CCSD and Washoe County escalation paths, and scripts for responding to common district pushback — including when the district proposes fewer services than your child received under Part C.

After the IEP Is in Place

If your child is eligible, the IEP must be in place by the third birthday and services begin on the IEP's effective date. Before providing initial consent, confirm that service types, frequencies, and durations match what was discussed, that goals are specific and measurable, and that the placement reflects your child's needs.

You do not have to sign the IEP at the meeting. Initial provision of Part B services requires your informed written consent; once you provide it, services begin on the IEP's effective date.

The transition from Part C to Part B is one of the most consequential handoffs in your child's educational life. The districts that execute it well provide seamless continuity. The districts that execute it poorly leave children without services on their third birthday.

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