Parents

Transition Planning

The Big Picture ♡

A step-by-step plan to help your child prepare for life after high school.

Group of students smiling together

1

Find Out What Your Child Wants and Needs

The team learns about your child's strengths, interests, preferences, skills, and support needs.

What this looks like:

Talk about what your child enjoys and what they are good at.
Learn about your child's goals for the future.
Identify what support they need.

2

Talk About Life After High School

Think about the kind of life your child wants after high school and the steps to get there.

What this looks like:

Education or training (college, trade, or other programs).
Employment (paid work or volunteering).
Independent living (living on their own or with support).

3

Use Evidence-Based Practices

The team uses proven teaching strategies to help your child build important skills.

What this looks like:

Break tasks into smaller steps (task analysis).
Give time for practice and build skills (time delay).
Connect new learning to what your child already knows (schema-based instruction).

4

Plan the Course of Study

Choose classes and experiences that match your child's goals and interests.

What this looks like:

Monitor progress toward goals.
Use data to adjust the plan as needed.
Include work-based learning and career training when appropriate.

5

Write Annual IEP Goals

Set clear, measurable goals that focus on the skills your child needs now and for the future.

What this looks like:

Build skills for daily living, school, work, and independence.
Connect goals to your child's strengths and interests.
Review and update goals each year.

6

Coordinate With Adult Agencies

Work with community and adult agencies to connect your child with services and supports when needed.

What this looks like:

Connect with agencies like VR, Health Dept., and local programs.
Include transition services and supports in the plan.
Keep your child's dreams and goals at the center.

Together, we can help your child build the skills and confidence for a successful future!

Transition planning is not just a meeting or a form. It is a process.

Prep other Family members or myself: My Checklist for the School

The "Pre-Meeting" Meeting: Did a teacher reach out to me before the official meeting to walk me through the draft plan?
Explain the "Why": Did they explain how my child’s current skills (the "Present Level") match up with the goals we are setting for the future?
Clear up the Jargon: Did they explain terms like "Post-Secondary Goals" or "Agency Consent" in a way that actually makes sense to me?
A Two-Way Street: Did they give me a chance to ask questions or suggest changes to the goals before they were "set in stone"?

Questions I can ask the team:

"Can we schedule 15 (or 30) minutes to go over the draft goals together before the big IEP meeting?"
"I’m looking at these test results—how exactly do these results lead to the goal you've written here?"
"Is there any paperwork or 'teacher-talk' in this draft that you can explain to me in simpler terms?"

Goal: I am an equal member of the team. If I don't understand the process, I can't advocate for my child. When the school preps me, it turns the meeting from a "presentation" into a real conversation where my voice counts.

And, most importantly, your child should have a voice in the process. Families and students are important members of the team and help shape the direction of the plan.