Age Requirements & Timelines
While federal law requires transition planning to begin at age 16, this is the age when Texas state law mandates that transition planning must begin.
What is by the 14th birthday? (13 is also an acceptable answer)
Transition goals must be "measurable" and take effect after the student finishes high school, meaning they are categorized as this type of goal.
What are postsecondary goals?
In Texas, special education committees are not called IEP teams; they are known by this acronym.
What is the ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) committee?
This is the frequency with which a student's IEP transition plan must be reviewed, updated, and re-evaluated by the ARD committee.
What is annually / every year?
Every compliant transition plan must be built upon these types of age-appropriate evaluations to determine a student's strengths, preferences, and interests.
What are transition assessments?
This Texas state agency frequently partners with schools via MOUs to provide vocational rehabilitation, counseling, and competitive employment support.
What is the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)?
At least this long before a student turns 18, the LEA must provide written notice to the student and parents regarding the transfer of parental rights and guardianship alternatives.
What is at least one year before or by their 17th birthday? (16 is also an acceptable answer)
hese are the three core adult life pillars that an ARD committee must address when designing measurable postsecondary transition outcomes.
What are education/training, employment, and independent living skills?
To keep parents informed, schools must provide them with this specific digital or physical publication developed to outline the transition process in Texas.
What is the Texas Transition and Employment Guide?
These specialized programs typically serve young adults ages 18 to 22, teaching them tailored skills to work, live independently, and engage in the community.
What are 18+ transition programs?
This required document is provided to a graduating student to summarize their academic achievement, functional performance, and recommendations for postsecondary success.
What is the Summary of Performance (SOP)?
This is the specific federal legislation that dictates overarching special education transition policies nationwide, which Texas builds upon with stricter rules.
What is IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)?
Texas transition rules state that a student's appropriate course of study mapping toward graduation goals should begin as early as these two middle school grades.
What are the 7th or 8th grade?
o promote self-determination, Texas regulations mandate that this specific individual must always be invited to participate in any ARD committee meeting where transition services are discussed.
Who is the student?
Name three of the mandatory "decision-making supports" or alternatives to guardianship that Texas LEAs must provide information on before a student reaches the age of majority.
What are Supported Decision-Making Agreements (SDMA), Power of Attorney, and Representative Payee?