Not sure if your transition plan is compliant? The Ohio Department of Education utilizes the National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center's
Indicator 13 checklist to determine if you are meeting the federal law.
Indicator 13 is as follows: Percent of youth with IEP's aged 16 (14 in Ohio) and above with an IEP that includes appropriate measurable post-secondary goals that are annually updated and based upon an age appropriate transition assessment, transition services, including courses of study, that will reasonably enable the student to meet those post-secondary goals, and annual IEP goals related to the student's transition services needs. There also must be evidence that the student was invited to the IEP Team meeting where transition services are to be discussed and evidence that, if appropriate, a representative of any participating agency was invited to the IEP Team meeting with the prior consent of the parent or student who has reached the age of majority. [20 U.S.C. 1416(a)(3)(B)]
The checklist, step-by-step, looks like this:
(a) Is there an appropriate measurable post-secondary goal or goals that
covers education or training, employment, and, as needed,
independent living? ___ (Yes/No)
(b) Is (are) the post-secondary goal(s) updated annually? ___ (Yes/No)
(c) Is there evidence that the measurable post-secondary goal(s) were
based on age-appropriate transition assessment? ___ (Yes/No)
(d) Are there transition services in the IEP that will reasonably enable the
student to meet his or her post-secondary goal(s)? ___ (Yes/No)
(e) Do the transition services include courses of study that will reasonably
enable the student to meet his or her post-secondary goal(s)? ___ (Yes/No)
(f) Is (are) there annual IEP goal(s) related to the student‟s transition
services needs? ___ (Yes/No)
(g) Is there evidence that the student was invited to the IEP Team meeting
where transition services were discussed? ___ (Yes/No)
(h) If appropriate, is there evidence that a representative of any
participating agency was invited to the IEP Team meeting with the
prior consent of the parent or student who has reached the age of
majority? ___ (Yes/No)
i. If student has not met the age of majority, prior
consent was obtained from parent ___ (Yes/No) or
ii. If student reached age of majority, prior consent of the
parent or student who has reached the age of
majority) was obtained ___ (Yes/No)
Before you say yes to all 8 components, it is important to consider IDEA and the law regarding the term “transition services” which means a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that:
(a) is designed to be within a results-oriented process that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child’s movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and community participation;
(b) is based on the individual child’s needs, taking into account the child’s strengths, preferences, and interests; and
(c) includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and, if appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation. See 20 U.S.C. 1401(34) and 34 CFR §300.43(a).
In essence, you MUST consider the child's preferences, interests needs and strengths as you develop their transition plans. The plan will become more focused and more detailed each year closer to graduation. By the time a student is in their last year of school, their transition plan should be well-developed and rich with details in order to meet the letter of the law with compliance.
Keep in mind that your State Support Team Region 2 Post-Secondary Transition Consultant is available and happy to come to your district or building to provide high quality professional development or technical assistance AT NO COST to you!