Transition

The Transition Process is designed to prepare students for life after they leave high school.  Components of the transition process are  Post-Secondary Education and Training, Employment  and  Independent Living.  These three areas are referred to as "post-secondary outcomes" and are the  driving force  for students in high school with an Individualized Education Plan.

As a student reaches the age of 14, in middle school or high school,  formal  transition planning begins.  Many students are exposed to the transition process before the age of 13 through various field trips, school assemblies, and classroom discussions even though they don’t have a Transition Plan in their IEP yet. No later than the age of 14 years, students begin to explore post-school outcomes through career exploration, interest inventories, transition/career readiness courses and transition discussions. 

Transition planning begins as early as elementary school at Tillotson.  Elementary students participate in a Transition/Career Readiness class once a week to start exploring community careers and becoming more aware of themselves and the community around them.  Students begin to get exposure to various activities that align with the Pennsylvania career education and work standards.  As students move to middle school, they begin to delve deeper into the transition process further developing their awareness of careers and preparing for future careers.  A career plan is created in 8th grade. 

Students in 9th-12th grades have opportunities to learn real-world work skills through in-school work experiences, as well as community based learning and volunteer work.