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EHBAD (TSBVI) Special Education: Transition Services

TRANSITION SERVICES DEFINED

“Transition services” means a coordinated set of activities for a student with a disability that:

  1. Is designed to be within a results-oriented process, that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the student to facilitate the student’s movement from school to post-school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation.
  2. Is based on the individual student’s needs, taking into account the student’s strengths, preferences, and interests.
  3. Includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and when appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.
  4. May include special education, if provided as specially designed instruction, or a related service, if required to assist the child with a disability to benefit from special education. 34 CFR 300.43(b)

20 U.S.C. 1401(34); 34 CFR 300.43

INDIVIDUAL TRANSITION PLANNING

Not later than when a student reaches 14 years of age, the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee must consider, and if appropriate, address the following issues in the individualized education program (IEP):

  1. Appropriate student involvement in the student’s transition to life outside the public school system;
  2. If the student is younger than 18 years of age, appropriate involvement in the student’s transition by the student’s parents and other persons invited to participate by the student’s parents or the school district in which the student is enrolled;
  3. If the student is at least 18 years of age, involvement in the student’s transition and future by the student’s parents and other persons, if the parent or other person is invited to participate by the student or the school district in which the student is enrolled or has the student’s consent to participate pursuant to a supported decision-making agreement under Estates Code, Chapter 1357;
  4. Appropriate postsecondary education options, including preparation for postsecondary-level coursework;
  5. An appropriate functional vocational evaluation;
  6. Appropriate employment goals and objectives;
  7. If the student is at least 18 years of age, the availability of age-appropriate instructional environments, including community settings or environments that prepare the student for postsecondary education or training, competitive integrated employment, or independent living, in coordination with the student’s transition goals and objectives;
  8. Appropriate independent living goals and objectives;
  9. Appropriate circumstances for facilitating a referral of a student or the student’s parents to a governmental agency for services or public benefits, including a referral to a governmental agency to place the student on a waiting list for public benefits available to the student, such as a waiver program established under Section 1915(c), Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. Section 1396n(c)]; and
  10. The use and availability of appropriate supplementary aids, services, curricula, and other opportunities to assist the student in developing decision-making skills; and supports and services to foster the student’s independence and self-determination, including a supported decision-making agreement under Estates Code Chapter 1357.

In accordance with 34 C.F.R. 300.320(b), beginning not later than the first IEP to be in effect when the student turns 16 years of age, or younger if determined appropriate by the ARD committee, and updated annually thereafter, the IEP must include the following:

  1. Appropriate measurable postsecondary goals based upon age-appropriate transition assessments related to training, education, employment, and, where appropriate, independent living skills; and
  2. The transition services, including courses of study, needed to assist the student in reaching the postsecondary goals developed under item 1.

A student’s ARD committee shall annually review the issues described above and, if necessary, update the portions of the student’s IEP that address those issues.

[See EHBAB regarding membership of ARD committee for transition services meeting]

20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(1)(A)(i)(VIII), 1414(d)(6); 34 CFR 300.320(b); Education Code 29.0111, .0111; 19 TAC 89.1055(j)–(l)

Transition and Employment Guide

TEA is required to develop a transition and employment guide for students enrolled in special education programs and their parents to provide information on statewide services and programs that assist in the transition to life outside the public school system.

TSBVI shall post the transition and employment guide on TSBVI’s website and on request, will provide an accessible copy of the guide to a student or parent.

The local school district shall:

  1. Provide written information and, if necessary, assistance to a student or parent regarding how to access the electronic version of the guide at:
  2. The first meeting of the student’s ARD committee at which transition is discussed; and
  3. The first committee meeting at which transition is discussed that occurs after the date on which the guide is updated; and
  4. On request, provide a printed copy of the guide to a student or parent.

Education Code 29.0112(a), (e)

GRADUATION

Graduation with a regular high school diploma under 19 Administrative Code 89.1070(b)(1), (2), or (4) terminates a student’s eligibility for special education services.  For students who receive a diploma according to 19 TAC 89.1070(b)(3) the ARD committee shall determine needed educational services upon the request of the student or parent to resume services, as long as the student meets the age requirements. [See EHBAA]

Graduation from high school with a regular diploma constitutes a change in placement that requires written prior notice to parents.

TSBVI is not required to conduct an evaluation before termination of eligibility due to graduation from secondary school with a regular high school diploma or due to exceeding the age eligibility for a free appropriate public education under state law.

TSBVI shall provide the student with a summary of the student’s academic achievement and functional performance, which shall include recommendations on how to assist the student in meeting the student’s postsecondary goals.

[See EIF]

20 U.S.C. 1414(c)(5); 34 CFR 300.305(e)(2); 19 TAC 89.1070

Adopted:         9/22/06

Amended:       11/9/12, 11/15/18

Reviewed: