Post-school Planning & Transitions

Transition services are designed to assist and prepare a student in special education to move from secondary education to the workplace or to higher education. Heartland AEA consultants assist schools, students and families in making transition plans.

Planning for adolescents’ post-school lives begins in Iowa by age 14, and it requires transition planning to be incorporated into the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.

Members of the IEP team (including parents and educators) can download the Transition Resource Guide as an aid during the transition process. Additionally, the Transition Planning Tool can be a helpful resource to families as they begin to consider their learner’s transition needs.

Transition Resource Guide

Transition Planning Tool


Age of Majority Resources

In Iowa, when a student turns 18, gets married or is incarcerated into the adult legal system, they obtain their educational rights. This means that their educational rights transfer to them. Age of Majority resources are available to help teachers, parents and students understand what educational rights students and parents have and what the transfer of rights means for them.

Age of Majority Booklet

For more information, visit:

Iowa IDEA Information

Iowa Department of Education


Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act

In 2014 the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law. The WIOA requires schools and Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) to jointly develop a system to ensure students achieve competitive integrated employment and do not work for a Community Rehabilitation Program at sub-minimum wage. Students who are potentially eligible include any student with a disability who is currently on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or covered under a 504 plan, regardless of whether the student has applied for or been determined eligible for IVRS. The video and accompanying materials linked below provide more information about the WIOA.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act Video & Materials

Contact

For more information or questions, contact the Heartland AEA regional office that serves your school district.