The federal law governing special education, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), defines "transition services" as a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that:

• is designed to be within a results-oriented process that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child's movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living or community participation;

• is based on the individual child's needs, taking into account the child's strengths, preferences and interests; and

• includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, acquisition of daily living skills, and, when appropriate,  a functional vocational evaluation. [(20 U.S.C. 1401(34)]

Additionally, Illinois School Code requires that, beginning no later than the first Individualized Education Program (IEP) to be in effect when the child turns 14 1/2, and updated annually thereafter, the IEP shall include:

• appropriate, measurable, postsecondary goals based upon age-appropriate assessments related to employment, education or training, and independent living;

• the transition services that are needed to assist the child in reaching those goals, including courses of study and any other needed services to be provided by entities other than the school district; and

• any additional requirements set forth in Section 14-8.03 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/14-8.03].

The CPS Transition Services Department:

• Develops programs that support schools in preparing students with disabilities for life after high school inclusive of, but not limited to:

  • planning for post-secondary education

  • job development activities

  • independent living skills training

  • community based instruction and travel training

• Provides staff development/training in best practices

• Hosts informational family workshops in coordination with other agencies that provide services to students and adults with disabilities

• Provides parent support and assistance

• Facilitates linkages to adult services

• Provides consultation to IEP Teams regarding development of individual transition plans

Contact Us!

We are here to support in any way possible, please reach out with any and all questions:

• Instructional Transition Services: ODLSStransition@cps.edu

• Travel Training Services: TravelTraining@cps.edu

• DRS Referral Supports: DRSreferrals@cps.edu