The Washougal Adult Transition Program (WATP) is a program for students who have an individualized education plans (IEP), completed high school requirements, and the IEP team recommends continuing public education.
WATP supports students in developing skills to become more independent adults and more active members of their community. WATP offers instruction on money management and budgeting; developing pre-employment skills to help get a job; daily living skills with house keeping, hygiene, and cooking; developing and using self-advocacy skills for students to speak for themselves and their needs; community based learning for students to gain job skills from worksites; navigating their community through public transportation and community exploration; and supports IEP goal work tailored to each student.
WATP uses community based learning through exploration and worksites for students to incorporate practiced classroom skills and gain more confidence in becoming independent adults. Students who demonstrate their abilities by working though the community readiness rubric will be able to access the community.
The requirements to joining WATP include the following:
Completion of all graduation requirements
Completion of state assessments or graduation pathway
Completion of Washington State History requirement
Eligible for, but has not picked up, diploma
Less than 22 years of age
Identified needs in the area(s) of independent living, community engagement, job training, and/or functional routines
Students and parents will want to talk to their current case manager about the WATP program. Your case manager will be able to set up a meeting with the WATP instructor who can provide more information and answer questions about the program.
You can complete this form to begin the process.
Students need to complete ALL high school requirements before joining WATP. For students that need extra time, they continue with their high school classes. Once high school requirements are met, the student can join WATP at the semester break or the following year.
If a student has met all graduation requirements and has been accepted by Cascadia Technical Academy, they can participate in the morning session and receive school transportation. If your student chooses the afternoon session, they will need to have transportation from WHS to CTA on their own.
Students who have an IEP can attend WATP until their 22 birthday.
Students should attend their high school graduation ceremony with their cohort, where they receive their diploma case, however they will not receive their official diploma until they graduate from Washougal. Washougal High School will keep each student's diploma who joins WATP. When a student or family chose to take the diploma, then the student has graduated and completed their K-12 public education.
A student’s extended graduation date on the IEP will reflect the year they leave Washougal Adult Transition Program, not the year they leave high school.
Students can do WATP until their 22 birthday. Students can chose to graduate early if they want. Once a student or family takes the diploma, the student is graduated and has completed their K-12 public education.
WATP wants students to become independent adults prepared to work and live their life in their community. To do this WATP has a set of work norms that we review throughout the year. The Work Norms are:
Be Appropriately dressed (clean clothes, long pants, no holes in clothing, closed toe shoes)
No offensive smells (showed/bathed, no perfumes or colognes, clean clothes)
Willing to listen and take feedback, Willing to ask questions, Willing to ask for help
Treat people with respect just as you would like to be treated with respect
Respect the work environment and stay focused
Use your words when you can
Be open to trying new approaches, Be open to trying new things
Participation is the key to success
Follow directions and safety are important for building skills for gaining successful employment
While WATP is housed in Washougal High School, WATP is an instructional program focused on community-based learning. Typically, students in this program spend several days a week applying what they learn in the classroom to real-life situations. While enrolled in WATP, students do not attend high school assemblies or follow the high school bell schedule. Instead, their schedules are largely determined by their worksites and other community experiences.
Although WATP operates in various areas of the high school, such as supporting the Panther Den, WATP students are expected to treat the high school as a worksite and adhere to the expectations set by WATP.
In WATP, we refer to class time as employment training, not as school, to help students change their perspective and begin to develop skills for employment. WATP students eat lunch in the classroom, not in the cafeteria; students do not go from class to class, instead they learn in the classroom, or travel out for community-based learning.
Because students go into the community most days, WATP expects students to dress appropriately for worksites. Generally, this looks like an acceptable shirt with pants and closed toe shoes. Some worksites may have other requirements and students will know those in advance.
Students that do not dress appropriately for the community will stay back in the classroom for different instruction. Students who consistently do not meet appropriate dress for the community will have a meeting to determine next steps.
WATP operates Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM.
On Wednesday, WATP operates from 9 AM to 2:20 PM for early release.
If the school district has a two- or three-hour delay, WATP start time is delayed by the same amount of time.
If the school district closes, WATP closes.
WATP does not take half days for conference week in the fall or the three days in the Spring.
If your student took the bus to school, they will continue to take the bus. Because WATP starts at 9:00, the bus pick up will most likely be later in the morning.
If you live in the Current zone, and your student has learned to use the Current, WATP would strongly encourage students taking the Current as a form of transportation and independence to get to and from school.
This process is unique for each student at Washougal. At the beginning of the school year, students participate in pre-vocational assessments and work around the classroom for a few weeks. These assessments help teachers understand each student's skills and abilities, and combined with student and parent input, and the student's High School and Beyond Plan, Transition Plan, IEP information, and work evaluations based on classroom norms, students are placed at various work sites for community based learning when ready.
Some students may need more time before they are ready to participate in community outings safely, and the IEP team will work with them to ensure they are fully prepared. The amount of time a student spends at their job site will depend on the availability of positions and the student's work stamina. Students may work anywhere from one to four days a week, with shifts ranging from one to four hours.
That depends on a lot of factors. WATP works to support student independence and pre-employment skills, such as filling in job applications and interviewing. As students gain work experience and confidence, they may begin applying for employment. Other students may work with agencies such as DDA or Jobs Foundation in support of looking for work and maintaining employment. Ultimately, WATP recognizes each student develops skills at their own pace.
If a student gets employment, they may still participate in WATP based on their transition plan and goals. If they do participate with WATP they could participate on a modified schedule to accommodate their work schedule. The modified schedule is set by WATP while taking into account the student’s schedule.
Students need to meet all high school requirements for graduation before joining WATP. Seniors who plan to join WATP should participate in all the senior activities that they choose to. Seniors can walk for graduation with their cohort class under Kevin’s Law. Students and families should not pick up their diploma from Washougal High School. Once the diploma is picked up, a student has completed their K-12 education and is no longer eligible to participate in WATP. Students and families should pick up their diploma in the following situations: 1) when they are ready to graduate and complete their K-12 education, 2) when the student has met their transition plan and is ready to graduate, 3) when a student ages out on their 22nd birthday, or 4) when the IEP team determines a student should graduate based on factors.
WATP focuses on supporting students develop skills to live their independent life after school. WATP provides instruction in student's IEP goal areas and transition plans. WATP uses rubrics, assessments, and in the moment feedback to help students develop skills to meet their individual goals. As such, WATP issues grades on a pass / fail basis.
Contact Us
Washougal Adult Transition Program
Washougal High School
1201 39th Street
Washougal, WA 98670
Tel: (360) 954-3223
Tel: (360) 335-4274
The Washougal Adult Transition Program serves students with disabilities, ages 18 through 21 (students age out on their 22nd birthday), and helps them build life and job readiness skills through placement with industry partners.
The Washougal Adult Transition Program is part of the Washougal School District and located in Washougal High School.