Dear ABRSD Families,

As we look ahead to the AB Forward reorganization and the start of an exciting new school year, we want to share an important update on how we are supporting students through this transition — and how you can be part of that process.

We are pleased to share that the vast majority of students are expected to transition to their new school successfully and without the need for a formal individual plan. That said, we are committed to making this a positive, connected experience for every child and family in our community.

Supports and Strategic Planning for All Students

Every school is taking thoughtful steps to ensure students feel welcomed, known, and supported from day one. Key initiatives include:

• Continued social-emotional learning through the Second Step curriculum

• Year-end celebrations and fall community-building activities to foster belonging

• Staff collaboration to share important student information with receiving school teams

• Building tours to help new families feel at home

• Introductory letters and communications from the 2026–2027 school staff and leadership

⭐ Webinar for All Families — Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00 PM ⭐

We warmly invite all families to join Superintendent Light's Family Webinar on Tuesday, May 12, at 7:00 PM. This special event will feature Dr. Julianna Chen, Chief Medical Officer at Cartwheel, who will share practical, home-based strategies to help your child navigate this transition with confidence. Dr. Chen's presentation will focus on building resilience, supporting emotional understanding, and using age-appropriate communication — giving you real, actionable tools you can use right away.

A recording of the webinar and the accompanying slide deck will be made available on the district's AB Forward website (https://www.abschools.org/read-the-plan) following the event. Watch for a reminder link as the date approaches!

For additional family resources available now, please visit the AB Forward Community Wellness site: https://www.abschools.org/abforwardcommunitywellness

AB Forward Individual Student Transition Plans

For students who may benefit from extra support, we are developing short-term AB Forward Transition Plans. These personalized guides are designed to outline specific assistance for a student's first six weeks at their new school. Please note that these plans are supplementary in nature and do not replace any existing legal documents, such as IEPs or 504 plans.

Determinations for support or monitoring follow a review of risk factors across six domains: attachment security, safety and predictability, school stability, trauma triggers, developmental regression risks, and mental health history.

If a transition plan is recommended for your student, the development and sharing process is highly collaborative and includes the following steps:

• Drafting: Mental health staff develop the initial plan in partnership with educators.

• Review: A multidisciplinary team — including administrators, the school nurse, and mental health staff — reviews and approves the plan.

• Family Engagement: A dedicated contact reaches out to share the plan, gather your feedback, and obtain consent.

• Sharing: The finalized plan is sent to the receiving school to ensure seamless continuity of care.

We are currently working through this multi-stage process. If your student is being recommended for an individual transition plan, you can expect to receive an invitation to join that conversation by early June.

Our commitment to a purposeful, student-centered transition is at the heart of everything we do. For questions about your student's transition, your school's psychologist or counselor is the best first point of contact and will be happy to help.

With care and excitement for the year ahead,

The ABRSD Elementary Leadership and Mental Health Teams