Direct Services • Indirect Services

Transition Planning and the IEP

Introduction
Transition Steps
College and Career Planning (pdf)
Download the entire Transitions Manual (pdf)

Step One: Identifying the Student's Desired Post-School Goals or Vision

A suggested first step in the IEP process is the identification of the student's desired post-school goals or visions for life after high school. These may not be the desired goals or visions that the educational professionals hold for the student, but rather are those goals, dreams, interests and aspirations held by the student.

Step Two: Describing the Student's
Present Levels of Educational Performance (PLEP).

The PLEP is based upon the student's desired post-school goal or vision.

Step Three : Designing a Statement of Transition Service Needs - the Courses of Study

A statement of transition service needs is updated annually and includes the student's courses of study such as required, elective, advanced placement, modified, vocational education, as well as other educational experiences in the school or the community.

Step Four: Designing a Statement of Needed Transition Services

The IEP should include for each student beginning at age of 16 (or younger, if determined appropriate by the IEP team), a statement of needed transition services. Needed transition services include: instruction related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives and if needed, goals for acquisition of daily living skills.

Step Five: Determining Annual Goals
and Short-term Objectives or Benchmarks.

In addition to the other elements listed in the preceding steps, the IEP should include a statement of measurable annual goals, including benchmarks or short-term objectives, related to meeting the student's educational needs. Without a good transition plan in place, students with disabilities are apt to fall behind in employment, socializing, community involvement and independence and once out of high school never catch up. Transition planning should therefore be the starting point and the foundation from which the IEP is developed and the ongoing guide for the student's educational activities. Planning for the future begins with the present.

College and Career Planning (pdf)