Secondary Transition: Special Education Services for Youth Ages 15-21

Quick Links:

What are Secondary Transition Services in Special Education

Secondary Transition Office Hours

Requirements

Secondary Transition Leadership Institute

What's New

Indicator 13

Secondary Transition Toolkit

Professional Development

Join a Secondary Transition Listser

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What are Secondary Transition Services in Special Education?

Secondary transition services in special education are a coordinated set of activities designed to help students with disabilities successfully transition from high school to post-school life. These services, typically provided for students ages 15-21, focus on preparing them for further education, employment, and independent living through individualized support and goal-oriented planning.

Key Components of Secondary Transition Services:

Post-Secondary Education & Training – Assisting students in exploring and preparing for college, vocational training, or other educational opportunities.
Employment Preparation – Teaching job skills, career exploration, resume building, and providing work-based learning experiences.
Independent Living Skills – Developing essential life skills such as money management, transportation, housing, and self-advocacy.
Community Participation – Encouraging social skills, recreation, and access to community resources.
Self-Determination & Advocacy – Empowering students to take an active role in planning their future and making informed decisions about their education and career goals.

Secondary Transition planning provides opportunities for students with disabilities to experience positive post-school outcomes, such as:

higher graduation rate
lower dropout rates
increased enrollment in colleges and universities
higher rates of competitive employment
increase levels of independence

Office Hours: Secondary Transition Talks (STT): Connecting Ideas to Action

What It Is:

Join me for STT: A relaxed, solution-focused space where educators, service providers, and partners across Colorado come together to talk all things Secondary Transition.

Each session is designed for conversation and collaboration to celebrate what’s working, explore new strategies, and problem-solve real challenges that help students prepare to thrive beyond high school.

Come ready to connect, share, learn, and leave with ideas!

Schedule:

From September through April of the 2026–27 academic school year, you are invited to meet monthly from 12:00–1:00 PM.

Bring your lunch, your team, and your questions - everyone is welcome!

Dates:

September 17, 2026
October 15, 2026
November 12, 2026
December 10, 2026
January 14, 2026
February 11, 2027
March 11, 2027
April 15, 2027

Registration Information:

To register for any of the STT sessions use the link below:

Registration: Office Hours - Secondary Transition Talks (STT): Connecting Ideas to Action

IGNITE Inspiring Growth, Navigation and Innovation

IGNITE! Year-Long Learning and Support Series

2026-2027 Upcoming Events

Click on the + to expand the section and learn more!

1. IGNITE! 2026 Secondary Transition Leadership Institute

From Inspiration to Implementation: Turning Insight into Action for Student Success

October 27 – 28, 2026

Last year, IGNITE! introduced a reorganization of Secondary Transition guidance and team support across the state. In Year 2, we move from inspiration to implementation; examining our practices, strengthening collaboration, and refining the strategies that support successful outcomes for students. Together, we will analyze our work, redesign goals, and continue building strong regional partnerships that move Secondary Transition forward.

	Together we will:
I - Insight	Examine programming, practices, and data to understand where progress is happening and where refinement is needed.
G - Growth	Strengthen team knowledge and leadership capacity to support high-quality Secondary Transition planning and services.
N - Navigate	Strengthen teams to align supports and partnerships for guiding students through seamless postsecondary pathways.
I - Innovate	Reimagine strategies that address barriers and expand opportunities for students.
T - Team	Deepen collaboration within teams, across districts, and throughout regional networks.
E - Execute	Redesign goals and implementation of Secondary Transition plans that strengthen outcomes for students and programs

Dates

October 27 – 28, 2026

Location

Community College of Aurora
16000 E CentreTech Pkwy
Aurora, CO 80011

Event Information and Registration

To register for the event and keep up on the latest details, visit the IGNITE! 2026 Secondary Transition Leadership Institute webpage.

2. Virtual Transition Action Plan (TAP) Progress & Planning Sessions

Registration coming in late Fall 2026

3. 2027 Spring Regional Secondary Transition Collaboratives: IGNITE! in Action!

Logistics, details and registration available by December 2026

The Spring Regional Secondary Transition Collaboratives are designed as follow-up, small-group sessions to the IGNITE! Secondary Transition Leadership Institute. These sessions sustain learning, strengthen regional collaboration, and maintain momentum through focused application and shared practice.

The purpose of these collaboratives will be to support Secondary Transition teams by providing essential state and federal guidance, sharing updates and current resources, introducing key initiatives, diving into indicator performance (including Indicator 13 and Indicator 14), and engaging teams in meaningful reflection and application.

Region Breakdown:

Northwest / West Central Regions
North Central / Northeast Regions
Pikes Peak/Southeast Regions
Southwest Region
Denver Metro Region

Secondary Transition Requirements

Indicator 13

Indicator 13 data [a compliance indicator for transition plan requirements documented in Individual Education Programs (IEPs)] is collected and reported by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) through electronic record reviews. These reviews are conducted by Administrative Unit (AU) staff through the use of the Exceptional Student Services Unit Data Management System (ESSU DMS).

Learn more about Indicator 13

Indicator 14

Indicator 14 measures state performance on the transition from high school to postsecondary education or employment of students with IEPs.

Learn more about Indicator 14

Summary of Performance

Picture: Transition Requirements (hands holding puzzle pieces)

The Summary of Performance IDEA 2004, Sec. 614(c)(5)(B)(ii):

Provides information to students who are graduating with a regular diploma to assist them in meeting their postsecondary goals; and
Provides information to students who are leaving school because they exceed the age of eligibility for a free appropriate public education (end of semester in which they turn 21) to assist them in meeting their postsecondary goals.

For students with an active IEP leaving high school for any reason other than the attainment of a regular diploma or through exceeding the age of eligibility, an eligibility review must be completed. Although not explicitly required by IDEA, if the review determines the student will exit, CDE recommends that a Summary of Performance be completed and provided to the student.

ICAP

Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) is a multi-year process that intentionally guides students as they explore career, academic and post-secondary opportunities. With the support of adults, students develop the awareness, knowledge, attitudes and skills to create their own meaningful and PoWeRful pathways to be career and college ready. Senate Bill 09-256 was enacted into law with a requirement that by September, 2011, all students, grades 9-12 would have access to a system within their high school to create and manage an Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP). Final rules defining the requirements for ICAP were adopted by the State Board of Education in January, 2010.

What's New!

Secondary Transition Toolkit

Colorado Secondary Transition Framework: Pathways to Possibilities Toolkit is a comprehensive resource hub designed to support educators, families, and students in planning meaningful, individualized pathways to adult life. Developed with Colorado’s educational priorities in mind, this toolkit offers practical guidance, legal clarity, and student-centered tools to strengthen transition planning for youth with disabilities.

Check Out the Secondary
Transition Toolkit

Secondary Transition Training for Parents: Special Education Support

Our 10-part training series and supporting documents will cover the transition requirements and process in detail. We want to equip parents, students, and staff to design and implement a meaningful transition plan to successfully launch their teen into adulthood with the needed support and services to achieve their dreams!

Parent Training Modules

Person-Centered Planning Helping Students Effectively Plan for their Future

Join us in learning how to seamlessly incorporate Person-Centered Planning into your current transition processes.
Person-Centered Planning is a process that helps students with disabilities plan for their future while also promoting self-determination. Participants will learn planning strategies to help students identify their dreams, strengths, preferences, interests, and needs.

Sessions will include an overview of Person- Centered Planning and practice using a variety of Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) tools to help students reach their potential and their dreams.

Course Dates & Information:

January 19, 2026 – March 13, 2026

There are four (4) modules you will complete over the 8 weeks of the online course.

Required Learning Activities

Participants will complete:

A Person-Centered Plan for themselves
A Person-Centered Plan with another individual
A Person-Centered Plan with an individual with developmental disabilities

Person Centered Planning Flyer (PDF)

Registration Information

Registration Deadline: January 12, 2026
Capacity: Limited; registration will close once the course is full

Indicator 13

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was reauthorized on December 3, 2004, and its provisions became effective on July 1, 2005. In conjunction with the reauthorization, the U. S. Department of Education, through the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), required states to develop State Performance Plans (SPPs). Seventeen indicators, on which data are submitted annually in an Annual Performance Report (APR) are included in the SPP. Indicator 13 data [a compliance indicator for transition plan requirements documented in Individual Education Programs (IEPs)] is collected and reported by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) through electronic record reviews. These reviews are conducted by Administrative Unit (AU) staff through the use of the Exceptional Student Services Unit Data Management System (ESSU DMS).

IDEA and ECEA Regulations

“Percent of youth with IEPs aged 16 and above with an IEP that includes appropriate measurable postsecondary goals that are annually updated and based upon an age-appropriate transition assessment, transition services, including courses of study, that will reasonably enable the student to meet those postsecondary goals, and annual IEP goals related to the student’s transition services needs. There also must be evidence that the student was invited to the IEP Team meeting where transition services are to be discussed and evidence that, if appropriate, a representative of any participating agency was invited to the IEP Team meeting with the prior consent of the parent or student who has reached the age of majority.” (20 U.S.C. 1416(a)(3)(B)). There is an exception to this age requirement in Colorado. ECEA Rules 4.03(6)(d)(i) states that a transition plan is required, “beginning with the first IEP developed when the child is age 15, but no later than the end of 9th grade, or earlier if deemed appropriate by the IEP Team, and updated annually.”

State Results & SPP/APR Targets

Transition Record Review Resources

Indicator 14

SY2025-26 Post School Outcomes Interview

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and Administrative Units (AUs) conduct a survey every school year to learn how parents are involved in their child’s special education program. Please refer to the short webinar and the survey guide below:

Webinar: SY2025-26 Post School Outcome Collection in Data Management System (DMS)

Training Resources

Definition of Indicator 14

Indicator 14 measures state performance on the transition from high school to postsecondary education or employment of students with IEPs. Specifically, the federal measure is defined as:

The percent of youth who are no longer in secondary school, had IEPs in effect at the time they left school, and were:

enrolled in higher education within one year of leaving high school;
enrolled in higher education or competitively employed within one year of leaving high school;
enrolled in higher education or in some other post-secondary education or training program; or competitively employed or in some other employment within one year of leaving high school.

IDEA 2004 requires the State to report its performance compared to state targets for indicator 14. Below is the link to view how the State of Colorado performed on all Indicators in our report to OSEP, the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR).

Colorado Post School Outcomes Engagement Data 2024-25 (PDF)

Post-School Outcomes (PSO) Timeline

Helpful Post School Outcome Documents

Indicator 14 Postcard Use and Guidance

Annual Performance Reporting for Indicator 14 (SPP/APR)

Guidance and Technical Assistance Documents

Writing Secondary Transition IEPs

Adult and Community Agencies

Important Ages and Milestones

Concurrent Enrollment

Grading and Transcripts

Graduation and Diplomas

Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP)

School to Work Alliance Program

Student Count Requirements for 18-21 Year Old Students

Transfer for Students Receiving 18-21 Transition Services

Transition Services for 18-21-Year-Olds

Transition Planning

Voting Rights and Responsibilities

Secondary Transition Professional Development

Please reference the Secondary Transition Support Trainings and Opportunities (PDF) to view the various professional development and technical assistance opportunities available upon request.

Secondary Transition Support Trainings and Opportunities (PDF)
Secondary Transition Training & Technical Assistance Request Form - form is being updated. For immediate requests please email Kacy Little Owl.

Upcoming Events