IEP Transition Planning

Special education teacher Chris Simley, left, places a coffee order at a table staffed by student Jon Hahn, volunteer Phil Tegeler, student Brianna Dewater and student Mykala Robinson at Common Grounds coffee shop at Lincoln High in Lincoln, Neb., on Oct. 26, 2018. Down a hallway lined with Lincoln High School's signature red lockers, through the doors of Room 123, teachers can find a little early-morning salvation: a caffeine oasis open for business each Friday morning.
Special education teacher Chris Simley, left, places a coffee order at a table staffed by student Jon Hahn, volunteer Phil Tegeler, student Brianna Dewater, and student Mykala Robinson at Common Grounds coffee shop at Lincoln High in Lincoln, Neb., on Oct. 26, 2018. Policies regarding the maximum age at which students are eligible for special education services have changed quickly in recent years, providing a potential lifeline for families but a challenge for districts in keeping families abreast of the changes.
Gwyneth Roberts/Lincoln Journal Star via AP
Special Education Special Ed. Policies Can Change Fast. Districts Can Help Families Navigate Them
States have raised the maximum age of eligibility for special education services. But policies often change quickly.
Caitlynn Peetz, July 17, 2024
4 min read
Instructor working with adult special needs student.
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Special Education Many Students Can Get Special Ed. Until Age 22. What Districts Should Do
School districts' responsibilities under federal special education law aren't always clear-cut.
Mark Lieberman, June 27, 2024
4 min read
Special Education K-12 Essentials Forum Innovative Approaches to Special Education
Join this free virtual event to explore innovations in the evolving landscape of special education.
June 20, 2024
Older student facing the city, younger version is being swept away.
Nicole Xu for Education Week
Special Education From Our Research Center What Happens for High Schoolers Who Need More Than 4 Years?
Districts work to serve older students longer than four years to plan for a changing career world.
Sarah D. Sparks, May 13, 2024
6 min read
A young woman wearing a pale purple headband and a matching t-shirt cuts a piece of pale blue paper into strips while she sits at a sunlit table.
Rebecca Newlon, 19, who has Down syndrome, participates in an internship job at her former elementary school in McHenry, Ill.
Taylor Glascock for Education Week
Special Education Older Students Face Time Crunch in Getting Crucial Special Education Services
Many students with disabilities missed out on key transition services during the pandemic. Advocates are pushing schools to make up for lost time.
Evie Blad, October 14, 2022
10 min read
Special Education Preparing Students for Life After Special Education? Here's How Federal Dollars Can Help
When can schools use federal funds to help students with disabilities prepare for life after special education? A new resource from the federal education department offers a road map.
Corey Mitchell, September 18, 2019
1 min read
School & District Management Inclusion, Career and Technical Education Help Students With Disabilities
Students with disabilities who spend 80 percent or more of their day in general education have better outcomes than similar peers, as do those who take a concentration of career and technical education courses.
Christina A. Samuels, June 12, 2017
3 min read
School & District Management Are High School Students With Disabilities Prepared for Life After School?
A two-volume research report funded by the U.S. Department of Education offers a deep dive into the characteristics of youth with disabilities who are transitioning out of high school.
Christina A. Samuels, March 28, 2017
3 min read
Assessment New Federal Special Education Grants Support Literacy, Testing, and Transition
The U.S. Department of Education's grants will pay for a comprehensive literacy center based in Oregon, as well as workforce demonstration projects in five states.
Christina A. Samuels, October 12, 2016
2 min read
Special Education Clinton Pledges More Economic Support for People With Disabilities
People with disabilities don't want pity, they want a paycheck, the Democratic presidential candidate told a crowd of supporters in Orlando, Fla.
Christina A. Samuels, September 21, 2016
1 min read
Special Education Postsecondary Transition for Students in Special Education: The Road Ahead
The 10th annual Diplomas Count report explores the different experiences of students with disabilities, as they leave high school and head to college or to work.
Christina A. Samuels, June 4, 2015
2 min read
Special Education Postschool Success for Students With Disabilities Linked to Goal-Setting Skills
A review of recent studies shows some factors connected with postschool employment, education, and independent living, but researchers say more evidence would be welcome.
Christina A. Samuels, April 9, 2015
2 min read
Special Education PBS Documentary Explores Life After School for Students With Autism
'Best Kept Secret' explores the postsecondary options available for six youth with severe autism in Newark, N.J.
Christina A. Samuels, September 23, 2013
1 min read
Special Education Study: Postsecondary Transition Programs Lack Effectiveness Evidence
Though strong research in this area is lacking, studies do show interesting areas that policymakers can explore, according to a report from the federal What Works Clearinghouse.
Christina A. Samuels, August 28, 2013
2 min read