The
Fly Paper 
A bulletin from the Director on those sticky issues in special education
January 18, 2005
Transition Planning
In District 97, the term “transition” is commonly associated with students’ transition from early childhood into school-age programming, transition from elementary school to middle school, and the transition from middle school into high school. In our Compliance Review, conducted by ISBE in October of last school year, we were commended for the good job we do in providing good transitions for students moving from one level to another. At the same time, we were found out of compliance with regard to Transition relative to IDEA and State regulations.
In the legislation, Transition refers to the planning that must take place to prepare for a student’s transition from public school into the adult services world. In other words, what do we expect for the student once he/she graduates from high school and leaves the educational system?
On page 18 of our Special Education Compliance Monitoring Review Report of Oak Park Elementary School District 97, Focus Area VI – Transition Service Needs, the report states, “References to courses of study was not documented in students IEPs a age 14. 23 Illinois Administrative Code Section 226.23(c) Content of the IEP states, The IEP for a student who has reached the age of 14 shall also include a description of the student’s transition service needs under the applicable components of the IEP, with specific reference to the student’s courses of study. Long term post-secondary goals, transition services needs and linkages, including the identification of agencies responsible for service provision, are not adequately addressed in the IEP beginning at age 14˝. 23 Illinois Administrative Code Section 226.230(d) states, The IEP for a student who has reached the age of 14˝ shall include goals for employment, postsecondary education, or community living alternative and a description of transition supports or services, based on the student’s need, including identification of the agency responsible for delivering any needed support or service and, as applicable, any interagency responsibilities or needed linkages.
By now you are probably asking, what does all this mean?” This simply means that while we, in District 97, have done a good job of dealing with in-district transition, we have not adequately addressed the legal Transition requirements for our students who are 14 years of age or older. As a result, I ask those of you who are working with students in our middle schools, to be certain that you make sure we have a transition plan as part of the IEP that is in effect when the child turns 14 years of age.
The initial transition plan for a student who is 14 years old will need to include a “vision statement.” You will need to have a dialogue with the student to learn what he/she expects to do upon graduation from high school. It is understandable that many students may suggest career choices that will include professional athlete, entertainer, etc. In those instances you should simply encourage the student to define some alternate choices just in case the athlete or entertainer options do not develop. In addition to the vision statement, the initial transition plan should include suggestions for the types of classes the student will need to take in order to be moving toward his/her career goal.