Family Information Session: Secondary Transition Services | Recording | Presentation slides
Learn more about OSPI Special Education guidance on the Secondary Transition webpage
Family Information Session: Secondary Transition Services | Recording | Presentation slides
Learn more about OSPI Special Education guidance on the Secondary Transition webpage
As your student gets older and progresses through school, her/his special education program is required to focus more intentionally on preparing your student for life after s/he graduates or “ages-out” of the school system.
Your student’s transition out of the district’s special education program is addressed by adding a transition plan to your student's IEP. Transition services must be included in your student's IEP beginning the year in which s/he reaches age 16, at the very least, or earlier if the IEP team determines it is appropriate.
There are six essential steps to take when creating a transition plan for your student's IEP:
Your student is eligible to receive special education services from the school district beginning at the age of 3 and up to the age of 21. Your student does not remain eligible for special education services if s/he graduates with a high school diploma before s/he turns 21. If your student turns 21 after August 31 of the current school year then, s/he remains eligible through the remainder of that school year.
Yes. Transition services are required for all IEPs beginning no later than the first IEP to be in effect when your student turns 16 years old. A transition plan can be designed to address your student’s needs for the transition between high school and college.
Your student’s transition plan and high school graduation plan should be coordinated to prevent a situation where s/he has completed all of the requirements for graduation, but has not received the necessary transition services. Making sure your student is on a path towards meeting all graduation requirements is the IEP team's ongoing responsibility once transition services are included in your student's IEP. Some students may also have an Expected Year of Graduation (EYG) beyond the standard four-year high school period based on their continued eligibility for special education services. All IEP team members should be fully aware of the student's EYG when considering the appropriate services and developing the transition plan.