Are you overwhelmed by the amount of options there are for after graduating and don't know what steps you need to take to be on track to transition out of high school? Here is a breakdown of what needs to be done in high school to prepare for success after graduation.
On the College Track?
For four-year universities, community colleges, and trade schools:
Please see the guides posted on the College for TN website that state what a high school student should be accomplishing for each grade level to prepare for applying and attending college: https://www.collegefortn.org/next-guides/
You will want to make sure that your classes align with the criteria for which schools you want to apply to along with preparing to take the ACT.
For more information on these steps, please see the following FAQs from College for TN regarding these topics: https://www.collegefortn.org/the-college-going-process/
For parents unsure of what steps they need to take to support their students, please click on this link from College for TN: https://www.collegefortn.org/parents/
For inclusive higher education programs:
It is important that you have a psychoeducational evaluation that is from the last three years prior to applying, so it is important that you coordinate with your high school and your physician to have an updated form completed starting your sophomore year.
High school is also a great time to work on your independence so that you can transition smoothly to an inclusive higher education program. This can include making your own lunches, cleaning your space at home, and doing your laundry. This also could mean ordering and paying for your food when you go out to eat and learning how to navigate new spaces.
One the Jobs Track?
For vocational training programs:
It is important to decide which program you are interested in because each has different deadlines. Some have specific times the applications must be submitted while others can receive applications at any time. Once you have decided which program(s) you will be applying to, you can plan out your timeline accordingly. For most of these, you will not need to worry about applying until your senior year of high school.
For employment agencies:
Depending on the agency, you can decide when you want to apply. While most will have you apply right around graduation when you are starting to look for a job, some might encourage you to open up a case during high school to begin the pre-employment process.
On the Building Independence Track?
For day programs:
These also vary based on the program because some have waitlists. If there is a day program you are interested, it is recommended that you reach out to that organization during your senior year to either get on the waitlist or to learn about the next steps to enrolling in the program.
For residential programs:
Most of the residential programs have long waitlists, so it is recommended that you reach out to them while you are in high school to join the waitlist that could last a couple years depending on the circumstances.
For Government Agencies:
It is important to start looking into government options to see if you qualify. Some have extensive waitlists such as ECF CHOICES and SSI, so inquiring about services early is super important. For MAPs, they can accept someone starting in their sophomore year of high school, so it is your decision if you would like to start receiving these services while in high school or wait until after graduation.
No matter what track you are on, it is beneficial to open a case with Vocational Rehabilitation so that you can begin receiving all of the free services they have to offer. They can help with employment, funding for secondary education, or learning important independence skills.