Transition Planning

TMS/WHS

Westwood SEPAC, 4/5/2022

Big Ideas

A Planning Meeting

The IEP will include important and possibly new information

Very broad spectrum of transition activities

Ongoing Communication and Planning with liaison

Share your questions and ideas

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Transition between levels is a Process

• The Team for students with IEPs can and should consider what supports the student needs as part of the process from 8/9 and Transition (18-22). This can look different for different students. Examples include…

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• Students with an IEP also can and should participate in any/all general education transition activities. We can support/accommodate as needed. Let us know your ?s early and we can make a plan together.

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This is an additional

process is for students who have an IEP

• Students with 504 plans or General Education students have a different process
• Students with IEPs can and should participate in all general education transition activities
• TMS/WHS have multiple scheduled conversations about students in the spring and into the fall

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Meetings

• Communication
• The High School Department Head is informed of all 8th grade students with IEPs.
• Opportunities for discussion begin in the fall with teachers/staff/families
• Meetings
• Annual IEP meetings begin in September and continue throughout the spring.
• Transition to WHS is discussed as part of annual and re-eval. meetings
• Robin Fabiano attends all meetings for students in specialized programs and if parents/team requests, otherwise TMS teacher will propose services. Often TMS teacher and WHS rep. have spoken ahead of time. TMS staff are familiar w/ WHS services/classes.

Meetings

• Sometimes a second meeting, specific to just transition is held in the spring for those students who had IEP meetings in the early fall and/or there has been a change in their profile.

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• Sometimes parents call WHS to ask questions or get clarification.

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A transition plan could include…

• Visits to the new setting by the parents
• Visits to the new setting by the student
• Video calls/dialogue with the new staff and the current staff
• Video calls/intro with the new staff and the student

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For all students…

• Providers in one school collaborate with teachers and providers from another school
• Collaborate on writing goals or to share best practices
• Share data on progress and what works
• Parents are welcome to hear about the new school, to ask and have their questions answered

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TMS Specifics 5th - 6th grade Transition

Annual, Evaluation, or Transition IEP meeting

TMS Representative attends - most often Dee Graichen, Dept. Head

Transition as a topic of meeting - meeting notice

Typical considerations/discussion - Academic, Skill development, Social (including peers), Transition planning

School & Schedule structure

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SAMPLE SCHEDULE WITH IEP SERVICES

6 RED OR 6 BLUE Learning Center Special Education Teacher

TMS Team model

6 Red / 6 Blue Teams

ELA Teacher

Math Teacher

Science Teacher

Social Studies Teacher

Health Teacher & CACE (Culinary Arts/Consumer Education) Teacher

Special Education Teacher

6th Grade Guidance Counselor

7 & 8 Red / 7 & 8 Blue Teams

ELA Teacher

Math Teacher

Science Teacher

Social Studies Teacher

World Language Teacher

Special Education Teacher

7th or 8th Grade Guidance Counselor

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TMS Special Education structure and approach

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Grade/Team Level Special Education Teacher

Learning Center - special education service - full block/half block

Providing direct instruction for skills necessary to access general

education curriculum.

Related services - speech & language, counseling, reading, OT, PT, Vision Teacher, Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Consultation - Behavior Specialist, Audiologist, Psychologist, Assistive Technology Specialist

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More about TMS

Learning centers -provides instruction of skills to support grade level curricular access

Resource room (aka small group ELA/math) -provides grade-level replacement curricular instruction

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TMS Centralized Programs

4 Centralized Programs (most likely Common Elementary program)

Therapeutic Learning Center (STAR) - supports students with social/emotional challenges

Social Learning Center (PEER or Learning Center) -supports students with social pragmatic challenges

Communication Learning Center (PEER/WABA) -supports students with social pragmatic and more developmental communication challenges

Developmental Learning Center (WABA/FOCUS)-supports students with more global and significant academic challenges

The Fun Stuff

Exploratories - PE, Music elective, CACE (Culinary Arts & Consumer Education), Art, Drama, Engineering, Computer Science

Sports - Fall: Cross country, fieldhockey, volleyball, & football (7th-8th)

Spring: Track & field

Afterschool Activities - Tuesdays/Thursdays 2:30-3:30 (Late bus available)

Examples - Chefs’ Club, Unified Sports, Art Club, Model UN, Board games, Knitting/Sewing Club, Homework Club

Transition from Grade 8/9

Annual IEP meeting

Transition as a topic of meeting - meeting notice

Timing during the year is considered

Considerations/Discussion Points - academic and social needs

Happens for all students in Grade 8 with an IEP

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WHS Specifics

WHS

Schedule

WHS Required Classes

Graduation Expectations:

4 years of English Language Arts

3 year of Math (4 years for state school)

3 years of SS- 1 must be US History

3 years of Science-1 must be Biology

1 elective (arts)

2 years of World Language

2 semesters of Wellness

1 semester of Public Speaking

WHS Programming (visual representation of services)

• 5 LC teachers
• 9th grade Reading, 10th grade Writing, Tools for Academic Success

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• Related Services: SLP, OT, PT, O&M, TVI
• Mental Health supports
• Social worker, psychologist, adjustment counselor, intern

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WHS Centralized Programs

• Specialized Programs (program guide description)
• Communication LC/Extended LC (similar to CCLC)
• 2 math classes, ELA, Wellness, Science, LC
• WABA (similar to DLC)
• Flex (similar to TLC)
• Flex Wellness, Woodworking
• Transition Program (18-22)

Special Ed. services

• Students can attend LC:
• Full time 5x60
• Part time x60
• Double 10x60 or even more if needed
• Related services
• Out of LC
• Out of S block
• Out of a free block

Transition (ages 14 - 22)

Transition- part of IDEA

For Massachusetts students receiving special education services, Secondary Transition is a time that begins when they turn 14 (or earlier, if the IEP team agrees). From age 14 until they graduate or turn 22, students on IEPs receive transition services from their public school districts. Transition services are defined by federal law (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA 2004) as a "coordinated set of activities designed to be within a results-oriented process that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child's movement from school to post-school activities."2 Transition services are based on the individual student's needs, taking into account his/her strengths, preferences, and interests. These services help young adults to live, work, participate in the community, and go on to further education or training as independently as possible when they leave high school.

Transition (Ages 14 - 22)

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• For most students that means helping them to identify a goal for after high school and taking steps to meet that goal for college or career.

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• Transition Planning Form- attached to the IEP and is required but is not binding. It’s a guiding document.

Transition Services in the Schools

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Course selection

Extra curricular activities

Self-determination, self advocacy

Increased independence

Guidance Sem./SAT/ACTs

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Transition Services in the Community

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Mass Rehab Commission (MRC) - Pre-Ets

Community based counseling

Internships/after school job

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Transition Work for Families

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Driving lessons

After school jobs

College visit

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Next Steps and What to Expect

The process starts with your IEP Team meeting, most often the Annual Review, unless otherwise specified.

That can be followed by any of the transition planning we have discussed tonight, as needed

Always individualized

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Who to contact for questions:

Dee Graichen- Student Services Dept. Head- TMS

Egraichen@westwood.k12.ma.us

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Robin Fabiano- Student services Dept. Head- WHS

Rfabiano@westwood.k12.ma.us

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