Secondary Transition to Employment Program (STEP) - (Career and Transition Services)

A collaborative effort among FCPS staff and businesses in Fairfax County to provide students aged 18 to 22 with employment training in real work settings.

STEP is for students aged 18-22 with disabilities who need a modified curriculum. The STEP program curriculum focuses on career and life skills. Students spend the majority of their day working on employment-related skills. Students may spend up to 5 hours per day on a job site. STEP students also take part in work-based learning activities. Work-based learning consists of a range of options, including:

  • Visits to businesses
  • Job shadowing 
  • Situational assessments
  • Paid and unpaid community work experiences 
  • Internships

STEP Program Goals

  • Prepare students for competitive employment at the highest level of independence possible.
  • Expand opportunities for students whose postsecondary goal is employment.
  • Build independent living skills through community trips and life skills instruction.

STEP instructors support students by:

  • Providing career and independent living skills training to students with disabilities.
  • Helping students with the transition to a variety of postsecondary options.
  • Providing students with self-determination, independent living, and workplace readiness skills instruction.
  • Coordinating the transition of all students with adult service providers.

Instruction takes place in a wide range of environments, including:

  • Classrooms
  • Community work experience training sites
  • Community-based instruction, including access to public transportation, banks, shops, etc.
  • Travel training

STEP Student Goals

  • To determine job preferences and strengths.
  • To learn job skills in real work settings.
  • To ease the transition from school to work.
  • To build self-confidence.
  • To develop a work history and a resume.

STEP Curriculum Areas

Employability

  • Career Exploration
  • Work Skills and Behaviors
  • Job-Seeking

Independent Living

  • Time Management
  • Banking/Money Management
  • Household Management
  • Food Preparation 
  • Personal Health and Safety
  • Recreation/Leisure
  • Travel/Transportation

Personal/Social

  • Social Skills
  • Communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Self–advocacy

STEP Locations

Currently, FCPS has four STEP locations:

  • Chantilly High School
  • Davis Career Center
  • Mount Vernon High School
  • South Lakes High School

Students attend a specific STEP site according to their base school location.

Questions?

For more information about STEP, please contact Career and Transition Services at 571-423-4150.