Transition Services

In the context of special education, this term refers to a child’s passage, due to age, from one program to another. Transition includes passage from California’s Early Start program to regular special education, and then, passage from highschool to post-highschool special education services. Special education covers the period of birth, through 22 years of age. In the Early Start transition, the regional center no longer acts as the lead agency, developing the IFSP. Instead the school district takes the lead, utilizing its IEP process to conduct planning and implementation. The transition planning for post-highschool services can begin as early as fourteen years of age and must begin at age 16. Concurrent with the IEP, the planning team develops the ITP(Individual Transition Plan). The planning is based upon the individual student’s needs, taking into account his or her preferences and interests, and includes 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. The process involves the establishment of linkages with other agencies, such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Regional Center, Social Security, etc.