For the last decade, the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), Division for Special Education Services and Supports, has been working to improve district compliance with secondary transition requirements reported annually in Indicator 13 of the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report.

SPP-APR Indicator 13 Measurement Language

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))

With the new College and Career Readiness Initiative funded through the Georgia State Personnel Development Grant, the state has intensified its focus on compliant transition practices.  During July and August, GaDOE staff and College and Career Readiness Specialist (CCaRs) from the CCaR Initiative completed a series of regional trainings entitled Hitting the Mark- Transition Plan Writing.  Transition teams of up to four members including the district special education director participated in these meetings which were held in Macon, Cleveland, and Atlanta (2) meetings.  District personnel participated in the day-long meetings where they learned how to write compliant transition plans that were of high quality.  The SPDG-funded College and Career Readiness Specialists will provide follow-up training in the participating districts and will coordinate the collection of fidelity of implementation and outcome data.

.As a result of this training, transition team members will have the knowledge and skills needed to develop compliant transition plans that when implemented will result in students being better prepared for college, career, and independent living.