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Incorporating transition into the IEP

8 tips for integrating transition planning and services throughout your student’s IEP document and annual goals.

Transition planning and services should be integrated throughout your student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) document and annual goals. These eight tips will help guide you on where and how to document transition as you’re building the plan.

  1. The IEP incorporates information and recommendations from age-appropriate transition assessments to identify the student’s strengths, needs, preferences and interests; assessment summaries and dates are recorded within the IEP.
  2. The IEP vision statement, for students aged 14+, should focus on the years leading up to high school completion and beyond.
  3. Post-secondary goals, based on age-appropriate transition assessments, are identified within three main categories: post-secondary education, employment and, if applicable, independent living.
  4. Annual IEP goals should be clearly linked to the post-secondary goals, as well as to what the student must learn to reach their goals.
  5. IEP development should include courses of study, transition services, annual goals, and interagency collaboration.  
  6. For IEP implementation, document the transition services that are likely to help the student meet their post-secondary goals (in the course of study and on the service delivery page).
  7. Evaluate the results against the annual IEP goals, and refine the following year’s plan to meet updated assessment and goals.
  8. Document specific transition information, including a) the anticipated graduation date; b) a statement of interagency responsibilities or needed linkages; c) the discussion of transfer of rights at least one year before the age of majority.

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