By the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 16, 2025) — The U.S. Department of Education released guidance today on transition resources and postsecondary opportunity requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act.
Coordinating Transition Services and Postsecondary Access: Guidance on Requirements Under IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act builds on the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) guidance A Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and youth with Disabilities from August 2020 and prior policy letters.
The guidance highlights how state educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies may coordinate to assist students with disabilities, including students with intellectual disabilities, who are in high school and will be transitioning out of high school and will potentially receive services as an adult funded by programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act and other federal or state funding.
The guidance addresses five core elements:
- IDEA Requirements: transition services under IDEA focus on preparing students for life beyond school, including education, employment, and independent living, through coordinated activities based on their strengths and interests.
- Connecting IDEA Transition Services with VR Services: collaboration with public agencies, such as VR and mental health services, is helpful in early transition planning and resource allocation. Transition services can include instruction in life skills, career readiness, and community access, and may also involve experiences outside high school, like vocational training or college enrollment.
- Enrolling in Courses at Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): the enrollment of students with disabilities in dual enrollment programs or transition services on college campuses as part of their individualized education program.
- Transition Services and Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) under the VR Program: Pre-ETS include required, coordination, and authorized activities aimed at helping students with disabilities transition from school to post-school life. VR agencies, in coordination with LEAs, provide services such as job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, counseling on postsecondary opportunities, workplace readiness training, and instruction in self-advocacy.
- Postsecondary Education and Dual Enrollment under the VR Program: VR support is not limited to associate or bachelor’s degrees but extends to various postsecondary options, including advanced degrees, technical schools, and comprehensive transition programs.
The department guidance can support states in their work to increase postsecondary education options and opportunities for individuals with disabilities, including students and youth with intellectual disabilities, through participation in comprehensive transition programs and postsecondary education at IHEs.
Last modified on January 16, 2025
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