Transition is the movement from school to post school environments. It should include the skills necessary for the student to be successful in education, employment, and independent living after completion of high school.

Transition requires support from multiple sources for the student and his/her family to make choices, develop connections, and access services. Beginning not later than the first IEP to be in effect when the student begins ninth grade or turns 16, or younger if determined appropriate by the IEP team and is updated annually thereafter. The IEP must include: (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 course of study) needed to assist the child in reaching those goals. Course of study should focus on instructional and educational classes and experiences that will assist the student to prepare for transition from secondary education to postsecondary life and a regular high school diploma. It should relate directly to the student’s post secondary outcome goals and show how the planned course of study is linked to these goals. The course of study should be meaningful to the student’s future and motivate the student to reach successful post school outcomes.

The student should be involved in the transition components of the IEP and should be invited to this portion of the IEP meeting. If the student does not attend the IEP meeting, the school system must take other steps including verbal and written input to ensure that the student’s preferences and interests are considered before developing the transition aspects of the IEP. It should also be noted that the parent and student should be aware of other agencies that must be invited to help with successful transition planning.

Georgia Interagency Transition Council, (www.gatransition.org) sponsored by the Department of Labor/Tools for Life is a transition resource website and has links to online transition training (under Resources/Videos) and transition assessment information.

Below are links to help provide resources for a more meaningful transition for all students with disabilities. Should you have questions and/or concerns about transition, please contact Dr. Lu Nations-Miller at bnations@doe.k12.ga.us.

• Transition Manual
• Tips for Writing Transition Plans
• Step by Step Transition Plan Writing
• Transition Service Plan
• Instructions for the Transition Services Plan
• Peach State Pathways
• Instructions for Peach State Pathways
• Sample Transition Plans with Case Studies for Transition
• Transition Documentation Checklist
• Instructions for the Transition Documentation Checklist
• Transition Plan Feedback
• Summary of Performance
• SOP Directions
• Elluminate Archived Sessions on Transition (20 Sessions)