Transition is a set of coordinated activities provided over a period of time that support a high school student with a learning differences in the transition from high school to adult life. These services focus on the student’s post-secondary goals in the following domains: education or training, employment, and independent living. (PDE)
The coordinated set of activities shall be based upon the individual student’s needs, taking in account the student’s preferences and interests, and shall include instruction, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and, when appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation. (29 USC705(34) (Pattan )
Transition activities may include but are not limited to career exploration, community based instruction, job sampling, job shadowing, non-paid work experiences, college and career fairs, tutoring services, programs offered through the Western Area Career and Technology Center, apprenticeship programs, Dual Enrollment opportunities, and work-release.
Placement decisions are predicated on assessment data used to determine an individual student’s need and level of school intervention. Such data drives decisions concerning whether to refer a student for community based instruction, job sampling, job shadowing or a work experience etc..
Assessment data should be derived from more than one source. Data may be derived from student interest inventory, parent / teacher survey, interviews, surveys, questionnaires, formal assessments, situational assessments, job shadowing information from volunteer placements, training situations and jobs.
For a variety of reasons, students demonstrating a high degree of need for adult supervision may require the services of a job-coach. Job coach instruction may be required for students who need 1:1 assistance with acquiring new skills, redirecting behavior, or without 1:1 instruction may not grasp the new skill. Job coach services are an IEP Team decision and should be based upon data and a demonstrated student need.