The Post-Secondary Transition Plan is part of the IEP process beginning when a student reaches age 14. The purpose of the document is to help guide the IEP team in preparing students for life after school. There are several categories to consider when discussing transition planning including independent living, community experiences, and employment. This process needs to be a team effort between school and home/family, these are crucial skills for the student to learn to live their most independent life.
A useful tool to aide in starting discussions and gathering student and family input is the Transition Improvement Grant Transition App. The app will walk families through the PTP process by asking questions and making suggestions. All the information is compiled in a report that can be printed and brought to an IEP meeting or emailed to the IEP case manager for reference at the IEP.
Transition services are defined as educational activities and supports designed to assist students with disabilities to reach measurable postsecondary goals. The determination of specific transition service needs stems from individual results of various age-appropriate transition assessments.
Pre-Employment Transition Services outlined in WIOA and Definitions
1. Job Exploration Counseling Services – Support for the student to learn about a variety of career options to make informed choices about current and future employment.
2. Work-Based Learning Experiences- Provide opportunities for the student to gain hands-on experience to identify strengths and interests, and develop skills for employment.
3. Postsecondary and Higher Education Related Services – Assist the student to achieve academic goals during high school and explore various types of college and job training programs.
4. Work Readiness Social and Independent Living Skills Services for Home – Support the student to build skills for increased independence at home.
5. Work Readiness Social and Independent Living Skills Services for Community – Support the student to build skills for increased independence in the community.
6. Instruction in Self-Advocacy – Provide information, guidance, and experiences for the student to gain self-knowledge and skills to appropriately express needs and opinions
The following checklists are broken down by grade level and general post-secondary plan and include topics and actions that are suggested for each year. These should be discussed at the annual IEP by the team to identify services that are needed, programs that need to be connected with and activities that need to be completed. Some items are more the responsibility of the family and some are more the responsibility of the school, but the team as a whole needs to determine which activities are necessary and make sure they are completed. These are great tools to look at prior to an IEP to help prepare for a discussion around post-school planning,
These checklists are aimed at those students who are planning on entering the workforce after graduation and perhaps getting on the job training or other short term training.
These checklists are designed for those students who will be pursuing any kind of post-school training which could include technical college, 4 year university, apprenticeships or other formal training programs after graduation.
This is designed for those who will be pursuing a supported employment path after graduation, working with community partners and agencies.