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December 2023

Volume 11, Issue 12

Use the green button below to share this Topical Brief with someone who would benefit from this edition. 

Topics

• Introduction

• The What and How of Writing Measurable Postsecondary Goals

• How Postsecondary Goals Can (and Often) Change Over Time

• Transition Assessment and Career Planning Resources

• Deferment of Receipt of a Standard Diploma: Did you Know?

• Project 10 Upcoming Webinar

• Project 10 Winter Institutes Registration

• Keep Yourself in the Loop by Following Project 10 on Facebook



Introduction

Ensuring students’ preparation for postsecondary readiness is arguably the most important task assigned to school districts and educators. Every student that graduates with a Florida high school standard diploma should be prepared to engage in post high school environments and activities with success. 

For students identified with disabilities and who have individual education plans to support their learning and progress, transition planning requirements and activities ensure that graduation and post-school outcomes are a priority.

Development of measurable postsecondary goals based on age-appropriate transition assessments is a paramount transition activity requirement that supports positive post-school outcomes. Postsecondary goals in the areas of education/training, employment, career, and for some students, independent living, must be developed beginning by age 14 (or prior to the start of 9^th grade, whichever occurs first) and are updated/reviewed annually. The transition assessment results and individualized postsecondary goals drive transition services, supports and annual goals necessary in secondary education for the student to be successful after high school.

The December 2023 Topical Brief provides a deeper dive into writing measurable postsecondary goals for students, including the critical role that transition assessment data play on the development of appropriate goals.

The What and How of Writing Measurable Postsecondary Goals

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires individual education plans (IEPs) to include appropriate measurable postsecondary goals based upon age-appropriate transition assessments related to training, education, employment, and where appropriate, independent living skills 34 C.F.R. § 300.320(b). Florida statute requires that these postsecondary goals be developed by age 14 (or in effect when the student enters high school, whichever occurs first) and include ‘career’ as a postsecondary goal area Section 1003.5716, Florida Statutes (F.S.).  

Using information gained from conducting a variety of ongoing age-appropriate transition assessments enables IEP teams to capture a student’s strengths, preferences, interests and needs. A student’s strengths, preferences and interests lend themselves to postsecondary goal writing, whereas a student’s identified needs lends itself to the development of annual goals.

The following table provides a description and/or examples of the various required postsecondary goal categories:

Lastly, in order for any postsecondary goal to be appropriate and measurable, it should include the following aspects:

• Be based on a student's strengths, preferences and interests (obtained from age-appropriate transition assessments).
• Describe the expected outcome the student will accomplish (be results oriented).
• Include detail and specificity, particularly as the student gets closer to exiting high school (e.g., names and locations of educational institutions, degrees, employment sites and positions, etc.).
• Include target dates and/or timelines.
• Ensure that the goals occur after high school, as they are postsecondary goals.
• Include supports or conditions that may be needed as part of the goal (e.g., job coach, assistive technology, vocational rehabilitation, etc.).



How Postsecondary Goals Can (and Often) Change Over Time

Since transition assessment data and measurable postsecondary goal preparation are discussed/reviewed by age 12 (or by 7^th grade, whichever occurs first) and goals are formally established by age 14 (or by the start of 9^th grade, whichever occurs first), it may be likely that postsecondary goal changes and refinements occur prior to a student earning a standard diploma and exiting K-12 education (Reminder: Any time a postsecondary goal is changed, parent consent must be obtained). 

Postsecondary discussions and goal development for a student in transition age will likely trend from broad and general to narrow and specific. Measurable postsecondary goal development for a 14-year-old student may include more general interests and preferences (e.g., career in the medical field, employment at a health career facility, education at a four-year university), whereas a graduating Senior may be expected to have more refined and specific postsecondary goals (e.g., Chiropractic career, employment at a local spine clinic, education and training at a specific university in Florida to attain a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science). 

 

Transition Assessment and Career Planning Resources

Transition assessment resources can be found within the Student-Focused Planning section on the Project 10 website. Included in the resources is a “Transition Assessment Chart”, which provides a large selection of formal and informal assessment names and links, categorized by type. In addition, Project 10 has a training titled, “Using Transition Assessments to Write Measurable Postsecondary Goals” that supports school and district-based personnel in transition assessment identification and implementation in order to develop effective and individualized postsecondary goals for students with disabilities. Reach out to your Regional Transition Representative (RTR) for more information on training and technical assistance opportunities.

Another significant resource to support career planning and transition assessment utilization (for all students!) is the recently created Florida Department of Education’s College and Career Planning Page. Xello is identified as Florida’s official, K-12 career planning and work-based learning coordination provider. Xello offers a range of career planning activities that assist students to accomplish the following:

• Build personalized profiles to display their interests, skills and abilities.
• Take career matching assessments to guide and motivate exploration.
• Explore their options by reviewing career profiles, labor market data and postsecondary training opportunities.
• Set both short and long-term goals and track their progress with academic course planning and managing the college application process.
• Prepare for the world of work by developing a professional resume and creating shareable portfolios, and applying for local work-based learning opportunities.
• Continually learn, reflect, and re-assess their plans with the support of built-in college and career readiness lessons.

Xello's homepage can be found here.



Deferment of Receipt of a Standard Diploma: Did you Know?

Project 10 is excited to introduce a limited series section within each Topical Brief, beginning with the current edition, to support all transition stakeholders’ understanding of the process of deferment of receipt of a Florida standard diploma. Take a look at this month’s “Deferment Did You Know?”



• Meeting all requirements for a Florida standard diploma must occur prior to being eligible to defer, per s. 1003.4282(9)(c), F.S. As a result, deferment is not intended to support students in completing requirements to earn a standard diploma.



Project 10 Upcoming Webinar



Project 10 is looking forward to hosting a statewide webinar in the new year! This will be a brief session on debunking myths related to deferment of receipt of a standard diploma for students with disabilities.

Myth-busting Deferment (webinar)

Date: Thursday, 1/11/2024

Time: 3:00-3:45pm EST

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/98637593561

No registration required.

• Intended for all statewide secondary transition stakeholders.



Project 10 Winter Institutes Registration

The Opening Session is open to statewide secondary transition stakeholders and will feature a variety of speakers and presentation styles.

Project 10 Winter Institute Opening Session (virtual)

Date: Monday, 2/26/2024

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm EST

Registration required via:

https://usf.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4ZLxLniAAN6R9j0

• Intended for all statewide secondary transition stakeholders; Information on transition-relevant topics for professionals who support secondary transition-age youth.

Project 10 Winter Institute District Size-Alike Sessions (virtual)

Dates & Times:

Monday- 2/26/2024, 1:00-3:30pm EST (Very Large)

Tuesday- 2/27/2024, 1:00-3:30pm EST (Large)

Wednesday- 2/28/2024, 1:00-3:30pm EST (Medium)

Thursday- 2/29/2024, 1:00-3:30pm EST (Small)

• Intended for school and district-based secondary transition educators and administrators. 
• Registration information will be communicated to school district transition contacts via Project 10 Regional Transition Representatives; Information sharing, collaboration and problem-solving on a variety of secondary transition-related topics.



Keep Yourself in the Loop by Following Project 10 on Facebook



Would you like to be part of our amazing transition community? Project 10 provides weekly information on transition-related events and topics, products and training launches, and other important state and project announcements. Please follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/project10usfsp, or simply type “Project 10 Transition” into your Facebook search function to find us. Be sure to like, follow and share us-- and help spread the news!

We at Project 10 wish you a safe and wonderful winter break and holiday season. We look forward to celebrating and sharing another year of transition expertise and collaborative opportunities with our many statewide transition stakeholders in the new year. See you all in 2024!

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About Project 10 Topical Briefs:

Project 10 Topical Briefs provide informational summaries and resource links related to secondary transition.

Have a question? Want to find or recommend a resource? Have some great news to share?

Email us at [email protected].

For back issues of Project 10 Topical Briefs, visit our Topical Briefs page on the Project 10 website.

Project 10: Transition Education Network

Assists Florida school districts and relevant stakeholders in building capacity to provide secondary transition services to students with disabilities in order to improve their academic success and post-school outcomes.

Project 10: Transition Education Network

University of South Florida St. Petersburg

Questions or comments?

Email us at [email protected].

www.project10.info