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The transition services unit provides stakeholders with the necessary resources, tools, supports and professional development needed to ensure students a successful transition into further education, employment, and full participation in their community
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Office Location:11721 Kemp Mill RoadSilver Spring, Maryland 20902
Phone: 240-740-5900Fax: 301-649-8018
Transition Support Teachers by location
Transition services are a student centered planning process designed to meet students' educational, employment and independent living outcomes. These outcomes may include:
A student's transition plan becomes a part of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process beginning at age 14 or younger, if appropriate. Transition planning is a process that should include the following:
Students receive an array of services to help them attain their identified post-secondary outcomes and to prepare them to be college, career and community ready. These services may include, but are not limited to; career education, career exploration, social skills and self-advocacy instruction, career technology education, in-school and community work-based learning experiences, independent living skills instruction, and linkage to community agencies.
MCPS Transition Information for Parents and Students, Families of students with an IEP for Ages 14 to 21 Sponsored by Montgomery County Public Schools Transition Services Unit - Interpreters available upon request.
Questions? Please call MCPS Transition Services at (240) 740-5900
Below are the recordings and documents from Transition Planning Parent Workshops from the 21-22 school year. Please note that subtitles can be accessed for each recording in any language by clicking on the settings icon on the video, selecting Subtitles > Auto-translate and choosing the language you need.
Click HERE for the registration links to the workshops for the 21-22 school year.
View Past Meeting Recordings
Transition planning is the process of implementing a coordinated set of activities that is designed to help a student with disabilities reach his/her/their identified outcomes.
Outcomes are the post-school activities toward which the student is working. The IEP team may identify more than one outcome for a student. There are four identified outcomes in the transition section of the Individualized Education Program:
Transition planning first becomes a formal part of the IEP during the school year in which the student turns 14, or younger, if appropriate.
Students may receive an array of services including, but not limited to the following:
All staff members involved in the student's educational program are responsible for preparing students to achieve their post-secondary and employment goals. Special responsibility is assigned to the Transition Support Teacher (TST) who coordinates the transition planning process.
Parents and guardians are important and valued partners with students and school staff in identifying their child’s post-secondary outcomes, planning the school program, and determining the adult service needs. Parents obtain information on available services through parent meetings and participating in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) planning process.
View page 6 of this document for "Roles and Involvement of Partners".
Each year, as part of the transition plan, the IEP team identifies the services the student may need during the first year following their exit from school. Students must meet eligibility criteria in order to receive services.
Starting at age 14, or earlier if appropriate, the IEP team should discuss and plan linkages to post-school services as part of the transition planning process.
A free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for individuals with disabilities is an entitlement from birth until the end of the school year in which the student earns their diploma or turns 21 years old. In order to receive post-secondary services and support, a student must apply and be found eligible based on the providing agency's referral protocol.
All High School students can receive a Maryland High School diploma based upon successful fulfillment of four categories of requirements: enrollment, course credit, student service learning (SSL) and Maryland assessments. Read more about MCPS Graduation Requirements
The Maryland High School Certificate is awarded to students with disabilities who cannot meet the requirements for a diploma, but who meet one of the following standards:
The final decision to award a student with disabilities a Maryland High School Certificate of Program Completion will not be made until after the beginning of the student's last year in high school.
Click to read the Maryland COMAR Regulations for awarding a Maryland High School Certificate of Program Completion.
Yes. IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) allows for continuation of educational services to student with disabilities up to age 21.
Yes. Students who graduate with a certificate may apply for admissions to any Maryland community college, such as Montgomery College. Students should contact the admissions office of the college for specific school requirements.