Richard Bollati

Walton High School

Introduction

Transition is a process that starts in 9^th grade and continues through high school. Students are encouraged to think about their future and choose higher education, training, or work.

The mission of the Student Transition Programs is to assist students and their families with a positive adjustment to the future. A variety of programs and services are available to provide productive and helpful interaction between faculty, staff, students and family members. Transition goal is to provide students with information and options that will enhance their educational experience at the university, encourage personal and academic growth, or prepare them for vocational training.

As employees of the Transition Linkage Office, you have to work on a new Public Policy about additional transition programs that will help your students after high school graduation.

Task

You are the most experienced Transition Office in the Region, and the Superintendent has come to you to elaborate a plan in finding additional programs for students who will graduate this year. The plan should include programs that will give to students with special needs the following opportunities:

Life Skills Self-Awareness Anger Management Social Skills Training Parenting skills Career Awareness and exploration Transportation Issues/Drivers Permit testing Job Seeking and Keeping skills

Work habits and attitude Vocational Training Academics that enhance each transition plan Employment Volunteer/Peer Tutor Job Development In-School job training Work Experience

Your report will consist of

a written report that explains the background of the existing transition programs, analysis of current policies and substantiated recommendations for the new additional programs

a visual presentation which may be a poster or photo journal summarizing the situation, and findings, or a power point presentation which will describe how students will benefit from the new transition programs

Process

You will work in groups. Each group will follow the Public Policy Analyst steps defining, analyzing, researching and concluding for new solutions and policies.

1. Worksheet1: Defining the Social Problem

You have to list the existing transition programs in the regional high school. Present and discuss the existing social problem. Pose the questions

Do we have enough transitional programs?

Do the existing transitional programs benefit the different needs of Special Education Students?

2. Worksheet2: Gathering evidence of the problem

You have to present evidence that a problem exists. The existing transitional programs are not beneficial for specific cases. You have to be specific as possible and gather information about the existing problem from at least one source of data.

3. Worksheet3: Identifying the causes of the problem

You should list the factors that contribute to the identified problem.

4. Worksheet4: Evaluating existing public policies

You have to work on the advantages and disadvantages of the existing transitional programs. In your groups you will work on what are the factors and causes that affect the existing transitional programs.

5. Worksheet5: Developing public policy solutions

After knowing the problem and its causes, you should research for new solutions in transition to help the high school graduate students. You must have at list 4-5 new programs which will benefit the needs of special education students in your regional high school. These new transitional programs will get them ready for a smooth passage to a real work place.

6. Worksheet6: Selecting the best public policy solution

From the list of solutions in step 5, you have to choose the three most effective ones which will benefit your students’ needs. Solutions - Offer High School Transition Programs

Resources

Education & Assistance Corporation

Aftercare and Transition Programs

Aftercare and Transition Programs

Transition practices among special education preschool providers in New York City.

Monash Transition Program | Information about Activities

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/centers/oopd/pdfFiles/presentCompleteList.pdf

NYC | regional round up | Macarthur

Health Program Grants: Transition Year Grants 2001

http://www.nycboe.net/

College Board - SAT Registration - College Admissions

School Transition Program: Students Offering Support - Transition and Peer Counseling for a Healthy School Community

Ontario High School ...Transition Program

High School Transition Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Frostig Center Services - School Transition Program

Standards

v English E1 – Read and comprehend informational materials

v English E2 – Produce a report of information

o Produce a persuasive and reflective essay

v English E3 – Participate in group meetings

v English E4 – Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness

v English E7 – Produce functional documents appropriate to audience and purpose

Evaluation

	Excellent 90-100	Very Good 80-89	Satisfactory 65-79	Unsatisfactory Below 65
Research	Problem clearly identified and thoroughly researched	Problem identified and reasonably well researched	Problem identified	Problem identified but research is lacking
PPA	All six steps of the PPA are clearly addressed and all worksheets correctly completed	All six steps of the PPA are addressed and most worksheets correctly completed	With limited research.	Incomplete worksheets
Written Report	Well organized, demonstrates logical sequencing and sentence structure	Well organized, but demonstrates illogical sequencing or sentence structure.	Well organized, but illogical sequencing and sentence structure.	Poorly organized

Conclusion

The transition from high school to adult life represents the culmination of the student’s experiences throughout her or his school career. This transition has been recognized as a significant process. It is supported by federal and state legislation that mandates procedures and responsibilities of school districts through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, P. L.105-17 (IDEA). Transition planning is part of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process that is required in this legislation. Transition is a planning process that focuses on improving a student’s success in all areas of life. The IEP is the guide for the planning that needs to take place for the student to be successful as an adult. It helps the family, the student, the school, and other agencies to identify, plan, and carry out the activities needed for success. It identifies the skills needed, what services will be provided, when they will be provided, who will provide them, and who will pay for them.