Secondary Transition: Special Education Services for Youth Ages 15-21

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Summary of Performance

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ICAP

Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) is a multi-year process that intentionally guides students as they explore career, academic and post-secondary opportunities. With the support of adults, students develop the awareness, knowledge, attitudes and skills to create their own meaningful and PoWeRful pathways to be career and college ready.  Senate Bill 09-256 was enacted into law with a requirement that by September, 2011, all students, grades 9-12 would have access to a system within their high school to create and manage an Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP). Final rules defining the requirements for ICAP were adopted by the State Board of Education in January, 2010.

• Technical Assistance: Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) and the Individual Education Program (PDF) 
• Individual Career and Academic Plan Website for Additional Information
• Crosswalk ICAP with Legislation and Colorado Rules on IEP (PDF)

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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was reauthorized on December 3, 2004, and its provisions became effective on July 1, 2005. In conjunction with the reauthorization, the U. S. Department of Education, through the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), required states to develop State Performance Plans (SPPs). Seventeen indicators, on which data are submitted annually in an Annual Performance Report (APR) are included in the SPP. Indicator 13 data [a compliance indicator for transition plan requirements documented in Individual Education Programs (IEPs)] is collected and reported by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) through electronic record reviews. These reviews are conducted by Administrative Unit (AU) staff through the use of the Exceptional Student Services Unit Data Management System (ESSU DMS).

IDEA and ECEA Regulations

“Percent of youth with IEPs aged 16 and above with an IEP that includes appropriate measurable postsecondary goals that are annually updated and based upon an age-appropriate transition assessment, transition services, including courses of study, that will reasonably enable the student to meet those postsecondary goals, and annual IEP goals related to the student’s transition services needs. There also must be evidence that the student was invited to the IEP Team meeting where transition services are to be discussed and evidence that, if appropriate, a representative of any participating agency was invited to the IEP Team meeting with the prior consent of the parent or student who has reached the age of majority.” (20 U.S.C. 1416(a)(3)(B)). There is an exception to this age requirement in Colorado. ECEA Rules 4.03(6)(d)(i) states that a transition plan is required, “beginning with the first IEP developed when the child is age 15, but no later than the end of 9th grade, or earlier if deemed appropriate by the IEP Team, and updated annually.”

State Results & SPP/APR Targets

• Visit the Indicator 13 webpage to view state Results and SPP/APR Targets

Transition Record Review Resources

• To review more information on the Transition Record Review process visit CDE's General Supervision webpage
• Standard Record Review Protocol (PDF)
• Standard Record Review Instructions (PDF)
• State Performance Plan / Annual Performance Report

Definition

Indicator 14 measures state performance on the transition from high school to postsecondary education or employment of students with IEPs. Specifically, the federal measure is defined as:

The percent of youth who are no longer in secondary school, had IEPs in effect at the time they left school, and were:

A. enrolled in higher education within one year of leaving high school;

B. enrolled in higher education or competitively employed within one year of leaving high school;

C. enrolled in higher education or in some other post-secondary education or training program; or competitively employed or in some other employment within one year of leaving high school.¹

IDEA 2004 requires the State to report its performance compared to state targets for indicator 14.  Below is the link to view how the State of Colorado performed on all Indicators in our report to OSEP, the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR).

Annual Performance Reporting for Indicator 14 (SPP/APR)

Guidance & Technical Assistant Documents

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Please reference the Secondary Transition Support Trainings and Opportunities (PDF) to view the various professional development and technical assistance opportunities available upon request. 

• Secondary Transition Support Trainings and Opportunities (PDF)
• Secondary Transition Training & Technical Assistance Request Form - form is being updated.  For immediate requests please email Kacy Little Owl.

 

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Upcoming Events

The Transition Leadership (TLI) - Save the Date

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Online Trainings

More Coming Soon! 

Secondary Transition Training for Parents: Special Education Support

Secondary Transition 101: Writing Meaningful IEPS

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Past Recordings

More coming soon!

The Transition Playbook Training - May 2025

Just wrapped up the May 2025 Secondary Transition Workshop! Educators and transition teams explored The Transition Playbook—a hands-on session focused on aligning IEPs with career and college readiness, building strong interagency teams, and empowering student-driven planning; all in preparation for the 2025 Transition Leadership Institute to be held in October. See the SAVE THE DATE!

• The Transition Playbook Training - PPT
• The Transition Playbook Training Video

Assistive Technology for Employment: An Introduction to Technology Options to Support Transitioning Youth

Writing Post-School Goals for Students with Significant Support Needs

Funding Considerations for 18- to 21-Year-Old Transition Students 2025-26

2025-2026 18 - 21 Funding Considerations for 18- to 21-Year-Old Transition Students (PDF)

This recorded webinar provides an overview of key funding and audit documentation requirements for 18–21 transition students. Topics include updates to the School Finance Act, changes to Concurrent Enrollment eligibility, and best practices for accurate Student October Count reporting.
Slides from the presentation are also available for download.

2025-2026 18–21-Year-Old Funding Considerations for Students - Webinar

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The CDE Secondary Transition Team is committed to supporting schools and families, we have collected resources and tools specific to secondary transition that may be useful as you plan for students. 

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Assessment Resources

• Indiana Secondary Transition Assessment Matrix  You may choose assessment tools by topic area, grade level of the study, and disability type.  The matrix will bring up all assessments that match your selected criterion.
• NTACT: Collaborative Assessment Guide for Transition Planning Services website - This toolkit provides an explanation of transition assessment, explains why transition assessments should be conducted, how to select transition assessment tools, and how to conduct transition age-appropriate transition assessment.  In addition, it provides examples of informal and formal transition assessments.

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Career/Employment

• 50 Videos for Career Path Explorations  From the arts to science to religion, introduce students to a variety of careers with KQED, BAVC and Salesforce resources.  Use these videos to inspire young people to discover careers and explore possible career paths.
• CareerOneStop video collection  CareerOneStop's video collection allows individuals to learn about careers, industries, skills and abilities, or work options and education levels.
• Indiana Secondary Transition Resource Center  The website includes a wide variety of short career exploration videos. Some demonstrate the job activities and the type of workplace environment employees would be expected to work in; others interview an employee about their work, their career preparation, and what they enjoy about working in their fields. 
• Next Vista for Learning - Career videos  1000s of videos about various careers such as health and fitness, history and culture, math, performing arts, etc.
• ONET - (get link from resources page)

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  Families

• Center for Parent Information and Resources
• Job Tips
• National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET)
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) from Vision for Equality
• National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT)
• O NET O*Net (. . .occupational guide to understanding the full scope of roles and skills needed for many careers and jobs)
• PACER National Parent Center on Transition and Employment
• Peak Parent Center
• Personal Assistance Services of Colorado (PASCO)

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Helpful Online Resources

• Project 10 Transition Education Network - Online Transition-Related Resources (PDF)  This list of resources supports teachers and transition stakeholders who are teaching and providing transition services to students with disabilities through distance learning methods.
• Division of Career Development and Transition
• National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET)
• National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT)
• O NET O*Net (occupational guide to understanding the full scope of roles and skills needed for many careers and jobs)
• Office of Postsecondary Readiness
• Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
• Peak Parent Center
• Transition Coalition

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Independent Living

• Project 10 Transition Education Network  These resources provide information and resources for school professionals, students and families regarding independent living options and strategies for students with disabilities. Resources are included for financial literacy, health, housing, leisure and recreation, and transportation.
• Self-Determination – I’m determined  Focuses on providing direct instruction, models, and opportunities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior. This project facilitates youth, especially those with disabilities to undertake a measure of control in their lives, helping to set and steer the course rather than remaining the silent passenger.
• Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment – Self-Awareness, Self-Advocacy, and Self-Determination  Transition education resources to build students’ self-awareness, self-advocacy, and self-determination.

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National Resources

• Transition Assessment Websites (PDF)
• Coordinating Transition Services and Postsecondary Access Guidance on Requirements Under the IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act, January 2025 from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) website.

National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT) Tools and Technical Assistance

• NTACT Log-In Page
• NTACT: Collaborative Assessment Guide for Transition Planning Services website 

Assistive Technology Resources

• SWAAAC: StateWide Assistive Technology, Augmentative and Alternative Communication

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Postsecondary Education/Outcomes

• Indiana Secondary Transition Resource Center Postsecondary Education Resources  The resources listed include a variety of publications, links to helpful organizations, fact sheets, and checklists pertaining to students with disabilities who are either planning to attend or who are exploring the possibilities of attending college after graduating from high school.
• Project 10 Transition Education Network  Assist students with disabilities to participate in postsecondary options that fit their interests and aptitudes.

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 Transition Continuum and Guidance

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Transition Record Review Resources

• To review more information on the Transition Record Review process visit CDE's General Supervision webpage
• Standard Record Review Protocol (PDF)
• Standard Record Review Instructions (PDF)
• State Performance Plan / Annual Performance Report

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The Secondary Transition has three listservs which shares resources.  The first listserv, TTL, provides training opportunities and information including current trends, research, and ongoing topics of interest related transition for transition coordinators, special education teachers, transition team leads, agency providers, parents etc. The second listserv, KTR, provides information and updates to special education directors and assistant directors. The third listserv, 18-21, provides updates and information to the 18-21 transition service providers. The purpose of these listservs is to facilitate connections, awareness, and access to information, learning opportunities, and resources that will better the lives of students in Secondary Transition and benefit the families, communities, and professionals who support them. Sharing of information is encouraged; however, it is at the discretion of the CDE what information will be posted. This service is chat-free and does not include advertisements from vendors or contract-based companies. To subscribe to the Transition Listserv, please follow the directions below. 

Join The TTL Listserv

Join The KTR Listserv

Join The 18-21 Listserv

Listserv Disclaimer:

A variety of learning opportunities, information, and resources are provided on this listserv. These materials do not represent an exhaustive list, nor are they required or endorsed by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). The identification or description is for the purpose of providing information and resources and does not constitute CDE's endorsement. Every effort has been made to identify the citation for the resource; please maintain the citation and/or authorship when adapting or modifying these materials.

Kacy Little Owl
Secondary Student Success Specialist
Email Kacy Little Owl
Phone: (720) 827-8283