Transition Assessment and Planning

CES offers transition assessments and planning for schools and districts across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Assessments and plans support special education students age 14-22 and their teams to develop their plan to transition to the community from school settings.

We specialize in complex cases, cases involving conflict, or those involving high levels of need with the potential for multiple adult service providers.

Our Approach 

CES is committed to providing the objective, third party consultation that can solidly move teams forward if they are in conflict. 

The transition assessments and action plans we provide are about connecting students with the right services and providers outside of the school while the student is eligible for special education services. This builds a network of people, agencies, and services that will support the child after he or she finishes school, and is established and familiar with the child well in advance of the time for transition to adult life and services. CES offers a process that can reduce frustration by bringing families, students, educators, and community service providers together in collaboration, to make the transition seamless.

Transition Assessments

A transition assessment typically spans three days, and may include participation at a team meeting in the district. The CES consultant will:

• conduct an assessment using guiding questions, records review, observation, interviews, and assessment tools (selected after reviewing evidence-based practices for transition assessment),
• gather information from the student, parent(s), vocational coordinator, counselor, and teacher at the current school, and
• recommend specific services and contacts to support the student’s transition from school to postsecondary education, employment, and if necessary, independent living.

Assessments identify student strengths, interests, and preferences related to postsecondary education, employment, and if necessary and requested by the team, independent living. The focus of transition assessments is the identification of disability-related needs, student attributes, and specific linkages that can be made to support a seamless transition from school to adult life.

The final Assessment Report and Action Plan is designed to align with the guidance offered in the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Transition Planning Form (mandated form 28M/9), and is organized in accordance with the categories outlined on this form. The organization of recommendations in accordance with the required Transition Planning Form is offered to assist IEP teams to easily understand, review, and identify priorities for IEP development in a way that fits with current practices in Massachusetts.

Staff Training and Support

Districts may opt to bring the consultant to the district for a three session staff training on transition practices, including assessment. Transition training will support district staff to carry the transition work forward with consistent practices across the district.