• About FCPS
• Contact Us
• A-Z Index

• HOME
• PARENTS
• STUDENTS
• COMMUNITY
• EMPLOYEES
• SCHOOLS & CENTERS
• ACADEMICS & PROGRAMS
• SCHOOL BOARD
• ADMINISTRATION

Career and Transition Services

Transition Planning

Career goal-setting
Self-esteem building
Self-advocacy strengthening
Independent decision-making
Personal life planning

What is Transition Planning?

Transition planning provides the framework for all IEP goals ­ academic, career, and personal. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 (IDEA '97) specifies that students' IEPs address transition services that students may need in order to move from school to post-school opportunities. In FCPS, students with their IEP team members begin planning for their transition in grade 8 or at age 14, whichever comes first.

What are Transition Services?
Transition services are activities that help students prepare for goals after graduation, including:

• Post-secondary education
• Vocational training
• Independent employment
• Supported employment
• Continuing and adult education
• Adult services
• Independent living
• Community participation

Transition services are based on students' needs, preferences, and interests and include:

• Instruction
• Related services
• Community experiences
• Employment and adult living objectives
• Daily living skills
• Functional vocational evaluation when appropriate
  

What is the Transition IEP?
The transition IEP is part of the students' IEP and includes important information about the student:

• Goal after graduation
• Interests, strengths, and career goal
• Activities to help reach goals in the areas of career, self-advocacy, interpersonal/social, independent living
• School and post-school services that can help reach goals
• Notice of rights a year before reaching Age of Majority
• Recommendations for next year

As students get closer to graduation, the plan includes:
Plans for after high school ­ further education, training or employment
Links to adult agencies, such as:

• Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) http://www.vadrs.org/
• Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) www.co.fairfax.va.us/service/csb/homepage.htm
• Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired http://www.vdbvi.org/

What are Age of Majority Rights?
Part of students' transition is taking on adult responsibilities once they reach age of majority, which in Virginia is age 18. Beginning at least one year before students' 18th birthday, they must be told that they will make IEP decisions once they turn 18.

At age 18, parents no longer make IEP decisions unless the student is unable to make decisions on his/her own. Parents are still invited to IEP meetings. (See Procedural Safeguards and Parent Rights document.)

Who Participates in Transition Planning?
The student is the most important member of the IEP team. Other members include:

• Family members including parent or guardian
• The school principal or designee
• The student's teachers
• Other school staff, such as employment and transition representative, guidance counselor, psychologist
• Adult service agency representatives

How Can Students' Prepare for Their Transition?

Students' Role
They hold the key to their future.
They share your dreams, goals and needs.
They share information to write their transition plan.
They attend and speak at their IEP meetings.
They use resources to achieve their goals.

Family's Role
The family can tell about students':

- Interests and abilities
- Academic, work, and life skills

The family can help students choose transition goals.
The family can help students accomplish goals at home and in the community.
The family can be a good work role model.
The family can help students as they graduate and become adults.

Who to Contact?
Ask the Employment and Transition Representative at the students' school or contact: