Welcome to our Transition Hub. If you are new to education, you may wonder what is a transition plan, and why it is important.
Transition plans are ongoing, outcome-oriented postsecondary plans based on collaboration between:
Transition planning is a critical component of each student’s IEP.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004) requires that at age 16, or younger if the IEP team believes it is appropriate, all future IEPs must include:
Transition services (including courses of study) are needed to assist the child in reaching those goals. [Section 614(d)(1)(A)(VIII)]
The Commonwealth of Virginia requires student planning to begin by age 14, or grade 8, whichever comes first.
What are Transition Plans of the IEP?
The transition plan:
Students’ transition needs drive the content of the IEP. By graduation, students should receive the knowledge and skills needed to meet the opportunities and challenges of life after high school as they define through their realistic MPGs.
The Transition Postsecondary Goals page includes:
Transition Age Appropriate Assessment collected information on the students’ interests, preferences, strengths, and weaknesses.
Based on the assessment data, measurable postsecondary goals in the areas of:
Transition objectives in the form of services or activities in the areas of career, self-advocacy, and independent living skills.
And, the course of study plan (which includes the academic career plan) that covers the action plan for a student's entire time in high school.
The Transition Services page lists school and post-school services to consider.
This could include links to adult agencies such as:
What are Transition Services?
The IDEA 2004 defines transition services as:
A coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability:
designed to be results-oriented
focused on improving the academic and functional achievement to help the child’s movement from school to post-school activities
Is based upon the individual child’s needs, considering the child’s strengths, preferences, and interests.
Includes:
Instruction
Related services
Community experiences
The development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives
Acquisition of daily/adult living skills and functional vocational evaluation (if appropriate). [Part A, Section 602(34)].
What is the Age of Majority Rights?
Part of a student’s transition is taking on adult responsibilities. In Virginia, this begins at age 18 and is called the age of majority. Beginning no later than age 17, students must be told they will make IEP decisions once they turn 18.
The law says, at age 18, parents and guardians no longer make IEP decisions. Parents are still invited to IEP meetings.
Who Participates in Transition Planning?
The student is the most important member of the IEP team. Other members include:
Family members, including parents or guardians.
School principal or designee.
Student’s case manager and other relevant special education teachers.
Other school staff:
Adult service agency representatives (as appropriate).
Let's continue and take a deeper dive into the Transition Planning parts...
