There are a lot of challenges for our older children that are earning a certificate of completion. What happens after 4 years of high school? Legally, your child is able to stay in the public school system until 21 years of age. However, most school systems do not have transition programs. Instead, 12th grade is repeated and repeated and repeated. Although I would hope programing changes slightly, I would say, chances are, students remain in the same setting as first time 12th graders. I do not know about you but this does not seem appropriate to me.
I have written before about transition plans in you child’s IEP and how they should be individualized. If you missed that post, you can check it out here. Hopefully, the transition plan in your child’s IEP has had specific goals to help your child transition to adulthood. If if they have not until this point, it is not too late. I recently learned that Montgomery County Public Schools has Transition Off-Site Programs. These programs are available for students who are at least 18 and completed 4 years of high school with excellent attendance. Students have to apply through their transition support teacher (TST) and meet all of the requirements. My thought is that this program exists, it should be open to all students. And the IEP team should make sure to teach the skills required to qualify for the program.
As parents, what can you do? Check out the brochure link above. Read the requirements. Make sure your child’s IEP transition goals work towards those requirements. Advocate hard for your child. Do not allow a school to say no. IDEA section 300.43 requires that IEPs have transition services that are individualized and focused on academic and functional skills that will help facility the student’s movement from school to post-school activities. It also states that the post-school activities can include “postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation.”
As always, if the school is giving too much push back and you need assistance, call my office to schedule a Strategy Session. We can discuss next steps and get a plan of action in place.
If you know anyone that has a child on the certificate track that might benefit from this information, please forward the email. Thank you!
Below is a short video I did regarding the program and how to support getting your child qualified as well as ideas for students in other counties.
Transition Programs
There are a lot of challenges for our older children that are earning a certificate of completion. What happens after 4 years of high school? Legally, your child is able to stay in the public school system until 21 years of age. However, most school systems do not have transition programs. Instead, 12th grade is repeated and repeated and repeated. Although I would hope programing changes slightly, I would say, chances are, students remain in the same setting as first time 12th graders. I do not know about you but this does not seem appropriate to me.
I have written before about transition plans in you child’s IEP and how they should be individualized. If you missed that post, you can check it out here. Hopefully, the transition plan in your child’s IEP has had specific goals to help your child transition to adulthood. If if they have not until this point, it is not too late. I recently learned that Montgomery County Public Schools has Transition Off-Site Programs. These programs are available for students who are at least 18 and completed 4 years of high school with excellent attendance. Students have to apply through their transition support teacher (TST) and meet all of the requirements. My thought is that this program exists, it should be open to all students. And the IEP team should make sure to teach the skills required to qualify for the program.
As parents, what can you do? Check out the brochure link above. Read the requirements. Make sure your child’s IEP transition goals work towards those requirements. Advocate hard for your child. Do not allow a school to say no. IDEA section 300.43 requires that IEPs have transition services that are individualized and focused on academic and functional skills that will help facility the student’s movement from school to post-school activities. It also states that the post-school activities can include “postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation.”
As always, if the school is giving too much push back and you need assistance, call my office to schedule a Strategy Session. We can discuss next steps and get a plan of action in place.
If you know anyone that has a child on the certificate track that might benefit from this information, please forward the email. Thank you!
Below is a short video I did regarding the program and how to support getting your child qualified as well as ideas for students in other counties.
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