• Transition Services and Post-Secondary Options

    • Transition is a results-oriented process that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of students with disabilities to facilitate the student’s movement from school to post-school activities with the goal of continued education, employment, and/or independent living.
    • All students classified with a disability, when reaching the age of 12, receive a Level 1 Vocational Assessment. First time students to special education over the age of 12 will also have a Level 1 vocational assessment performed regardless of their age.
    • Transition services must be included in a student’s IEP beginning with the IEP that will be in effect during the year that a student is 15 years old or earlier if the IEP team deems it appropriate.
    • Transition planning assists the student with making sound choices and goals, establishing a plan to achieve those choices and goals, and helping him or her realize this plan.
    • The school must take steps to ensure the student is invited to their IEP meeting where transition services will be discussed.  If the student is unable to attend the school must take steps to ensure that the student's preferences and interests are considered.
    • All students who have IEPs and 504 plans must be provided with a Exit Summary of:   

     - Academic achievement

    - Functional performance

    - Recommendations on how to assist the student in meeting their post-secondary goals

    - Student Exit Summaries should be completed during the final year of high school and provided to the student prior to school exit.

    • Transition services responsibilities are shared by multiple members of the school and the broader community. Representatives of community agencies, particularly those that have traditionally provided post-high-school services, should be active participants of the Transition Team when appropriate. (They are not mandated members of the IEP team.) This may include members of the community (such as potential employers or other community based organizations), agency personnel (such as ACCES formally VESID, OPWDD, and OMH).