Transition is the process of preparing students for life after they leave high school, including community living, employment, and participation in post-secondary education or training.

Transition Services Defined
Transition services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are a coordinated set of activities that are designed as a results oriented process that promotes movement from school to post-school activities, including independent living, integrated services, post-secondary education, vocational training, or community participation based on the individual student’s needs, taking into account the student’s preference and interests. This includes community experiences, development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, instruction, related services, and acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.

Transition Planning Team
The Transition Planning Team includes the student, family, administrators, agency representatives (if given written permission by family or adult student), general and special education teachers, other appropriate school staff (such as counselors, transition specialist, or vocational adjustment coordinators), and any other person the student or family feel know the educational needs of the student.

Role of the Parent(s)/Guardian(s) in the Transition Process
Help your child identify goals in the areas of further education, employment and independent living. Before your child turns 18, be an active participant in the development of the Individual Education Plan (IEP). After they turn 18, support your child in the decision-making process.

Preparing for Transition
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) should begin preparing a child for making choices and decisions long before the child reaches the age of majority. For many parents of children with disabilities, this step may be difficult because, as a parent, you spent years advocating and speaking on behalf of your children. As a result, it is not easy to step back and begin to allow your child to speak on his or her behalf. However, recognizing the need for this stage in the life of your child is essential. In order to prepare your student with a disability for the transfer of rights, it is necessary for a parent to begin to step back, listen, and involve the student in the decision making processes early.

Transition Tips

• Involve your child in IEP and transition planning early and make sure his/her voice is heard
• Discuss important decisions with your child ahead of meetings so that he/she is informed and prepared to participate
• Encourage your child to develop good relationships with school personnel and other agencies and/or service providers
• Make sure educators and other agencies and/or service providers listen to your child and avoid pressuring him/her
• Include your child in all decisions that impact his/her life, in and out of school.

18+ Classes
The Denton ISD 18+ Classes seek to provide services for young adults ages 18 to 21 as they progress from an educational setting towards living and working as independently as possible in the community.  Students will address life skills goals through individual and community-based interactions, which lead to the acquisition of work skills, independent living skills and vocational-based experiences.

Parent Resources
Transition in Texas provides knowledge of the secondary transition process to facilitate student progress toward attainment of their postsecondary goals. On this site you will find resources for students, parents, educators and agency resources.

The Texas Transition and Employment Guide (En Español), required by House Bill 617, is intended to provide information for students and their parents on statewide services and programs that assist in the transition to life outside the public school system.