You are here

Secondary Transition

What is Secondary Transition?  It is the process of preparing students for adult life after they leave high school and can be thought of as a bridge between school programs and the opportunities of adult life, including higher education or training, employment, independent living and community participation.  Transition planning provides opportunities for students with disabilities to experience positive post-school outcomes, such as:

  • higher graduation rate
  • lower dropout rates
  • increased enrollment in colleges and universities
  • higher rates of competitive employment
  • increase levels of independence

Providing Secondary Transition Services During COVID

Our team has collected resources and tools specific to secondary transition that may be useful as you plan for students.

View the Secondary
Transition & COVID Resources 

 

What's New!

2023-2024 Transition Action Plans - Check & Connect

Gail Lott will be holding virtual "Check & Connects" of Transition Action Plans developed during the Transition Leadership Institute. Check and Connect provides an opportunity for AU personnel to update and monitor progress on their transition action plans. Check and Connect also clarifies processes within the transition programming tool and provides opportunities for interaction with the state and national transition experts.

When:

  • Friday, September 1st, 2023 – Final draft of your plan due. Please submit to the Transition Program Tool.
  • Wednesday, November 8th, 2023 – CDE facilitates AUs Check & Connect (check-in, receive feedback, technical soundness) (team leads only)
    • 8:00 - 9:00 am or
    • 3:30-4:30 pm
  • Wednesday, January 31st, 2024 – CDE facilitates AU Check & Connect (progress monitoring) (team leads only) 8:00 - 9:00 am
  • Wednesday, May 1st, 2024 – AUs evaluate and finalize your plan (team leads only) 8:00-9:00 am


2023-2024 Secondary Transition Regional Meetings - Administrators and Transition Leads ONLY

This training will be a focused, intensive two-day train-the-trainer model to build a deep and sustainable training skill set in a smaller but select group of AU leaders. The goal is to support AU leaders who are responsible for training local teams. This may be a director, assistant director, coordinator, team lead, or school psychologist... the titles are less important than each individual's ability to train others and to make an impact in your AU.

Regional Meeting Dates:

  • October 3-4, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; Montrose County School District Office, 930 Colorado Ave., Montrose, CO 81401
  • October 17-18, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; Eagle County School District, Edwards Early Learning Center, 1121Miller Ranch Rd., Edwards, CO 81632 
  • October 31-November 1, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; Poudre School District, Future Ready Center, Foot Hills Mall, 215 E. Foothills Pkwy, Ft. Collins, CO 80525
  • November 14-15, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; Falcon District 49, Creekside Success Center, 3850 Pony Tracks Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80922


PSO Interview Postcards

The Post School Outcomes Interview Postcards are now available for print. The PSO Interview Postcards (PDF) will be best if printed on cardstock.

Transition Talks

Each month, the CDE Secondary Transition Specialist will host Transition Talks covering a variety of topics related to effective secondary transition planning.  Visit the Transition Talks webpage for dates and additional information.

Regional Meetings for Secondary Transition Personnel - We Need to Hear from You!

  • What is going on in your region?
  • What topics are relevant to you?
  • What challenges are you facing?
  • How might your state transition team assist you?

Please share your needs via the Secondary Transition Providers link.


Secondary Transition Training Events

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

State Toolkit for Examining Post-School Success (STEPSS)

Secondary Transition 101: Writing Meaningful IEPs

  • Module 1 provides an introduction to secondary transition requirements.
  • Module 2 provides an introduction to components of meaningful secondary transition IEPs.
  • Module 3 is a six-part series about secondary transition planning. 

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

Jim Sandstrum provides an overview and introduction to Assistive Technologies, which have the potential to improve employment outcomes for youth with disabilities as they enter the workforce. Demonstration and examples include options in support of cognitive function, vision, hearing, mobility and mental health.

View the training

Recorded Training: Writing Post-School Goals for Students with Significant Support Needs

Writing employment and training post-school goals for students with significant/complex needs is very challenging.  This training offers guidance and examples to consider when writing post-school goals for students with significant/complex support needs. 

Participants will learn: 

  • how to develop PSGs for students with significant/complex support needs.
  • to consider what a meaningful day means when developing PSGs.
  • to consider natural and community supports to meet students’ needs.

View the training.

2023 Transition Leadership Institute 

Find all the details about the 2023 Transition Leadership Institute here

Team Members

Gail Lott, EdD
Principal Consultant / Secondary Transition Specialist
Email Gail Lott
Phone: (303) 501-0347

Katie Oliver
Principal Consultant / Inter-Agency Transition Liaison
Email Katie Oliver
Phone: (720) 413-4006
 
Roberta Curtis
Program Support Assistant
 

 



Having trouble with this webpage?

Email

If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact the Exceptional Student Services Unit at ESSU@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.