The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) recognizes the importance of preparing youth with disabilities for success after high school through individualized transition planning.  Planning for transition means assessing the needs, strengths, and skills required for a student to move from high school to postsecondary life, and then putting effective supports in place based on this assessment.  Pursuant to federal law, transition planning must begin for students to ensure that they have a transition plan in effect by age 16. In addition, local law passed in 2014 required that the District lower the age at which transition plans are in place to age 14, and OSSE expects that this requirement will become effective July 1, 2018.

While the District has made steady progress in addressing this requirement, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) continues to apply special conditions to the District’s IDEA Part B grant due to a low rate of compliance. To ensure that all LEAs are fully prepared to support student success, OSSE is requiring that all LEAs serving students ages 13 and above develop a plan for implementation over a three-year period.  The purpose of this plan is to ensure that LEAs are thinking systemically about ways to improve college and career readiness in a manner that accelerates graduation and post-secondary outcomes for their students.  

On Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, LEAs serving this population received a communication regarding required trainings to support continuous improvement. One half day training session is for all LEAs serving this population, and an additional “deep dive” training is being provided to LEAs being monitored this year. These training sessions are required. If you received this communication, please have your team register for the appropriate sessions at a time most convenient for your LEA, by Friday, Dec. 22, 2017.

Universal Technical Assistance for All LEAs

OSSE is providing half day training sessions (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.) to assist LEAs with understanding core requirements and best practices in secondary transition planning. We ask that your special education coordinator and one other staff member, preferably from your leadership team, attend the session. LEAs which would like to send more than two team members will be accommodated on a first-come, first- serve basis. During these sessions, participants will:

• Participate in a root cause analysis process that will include a review of secondary transition and related performance data
• Receive support in selecting high-impact strategies and developing a strategic plans to carry them out
• Learn about resources and support available from OSSE

Available Sessions:

• Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

REGISTER

Targeted Technical Assistance for LEAs Monitored in the 2017-18 School Year

In addition to the technical assistance sessions, OSSE continues to provide introductory-level secondary transition professional development opportunities for all District educators and school staff. These trainings are announced via the LEA Look Forward.

For more information or questions, please contact Jennifer Carpenter at [email protected].