On January 16, 2025, the Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services released Coordinating Transition Services and Postsecondary Access that addresses through a series of FAQs, several topics related to postsecondary transition for students and youth with disabilities. This guidance builds on A Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities and prior policy letters that the Department issued in August 2020. The guidance describes how State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and State VR agencies may coordinate to assist students with disabilities who are in high school and will be transitioning out of high school.

Recently, Pennsylvania's commitment to working with OSEP-funded TA Centers around improving post school outcomes for students with disabilities was highlighted. Check out the spotlight on the NTACT:C website.

Join us as we celebrate Career and Technical Education Month®. CTE Month® is a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. Take the opportunity to explore resources to increase awareness about the importance of CTE for students with disabilities and our nation’s economy and have fun doing it!

Gather Comprehensive Student Information

1. Review the student’s strengths, preferences, interests, and needs (SPIN) as outlined in their transition assessments.
2. Analyze academic performance, learning styles, and relevant career interest inventories.
3. Include all parties in the conversation: student, family, school staff, administration, CTE staff/representative, etc.
4. Consider any accommodations or supports the student currently utilizes in school settings.

Understand CTE Program Requirements and Offerings

1. Research available CTE programs, including prerequisites, curriculum focus, entry criteria and program task lists.
2. Determine if the program aligns with the student’s career interests and postsecondary goals.
3. Identify if the program offers opportunities for micro credentialing as an alternative or complement to completing the entire program or passing the NOCTI assessment.
4. Encourage student and family to take a tour of the CTE and learn about the specific program(s) the student may be interested in attending.

Use the FAB Process to Assess Accessibility, Inclusion, and Program Fit

1. Utilize PaTTAN’s Framework for Access and Belonging to assess: accessibility of facilities, materials, and curriculum inclusiveness of instructional practices and the program environment, opportunities for meaningful participation and belonging for students with disabilities.
2. Analyze the Gaps: Compare the student’s current skills and performance levels to the demands of the program, identifying any barriers to success.
3. Develop Solutions: Collaborate with CTE staff and the IEP team to identify strategies, supports, and accommodations to bridge identified gaps. Include micro credentialing options as a flexible pathway for students who may not complete the full program or pass the NOCTI exam.

Embed NOCTI Resources to Foster Student Success

1. Familiarize the IEP team with NOCTI’s study guides, practice tests, and skill gap analysis tools to help prepare the student for technical assessments.
2. Use NOCTI’s Blueprint of Test Content to tailor instructional strategies and accommodations.
3. Explore NOCTI’s customized credentialing options for students requiring modified assessment pathways.

Align Program with IEP Goals

1. Ensure the CTE program complements the student’s transition goals and objectives.
2. Incorporate program participation into the IEP, specifying accommodations, modifications, and/or related services needed.
3. If needed, address how the development of employability skills will be supported through IEP goals and progress monitoring.

Explore and Engage External Supports

1. Explore opportunities for short-term experiences such as shadowing.
2. Collaborate with local agencies (e.g., Vocational Rehabilitation) to provide additional support services or resources.
3. Work with NOCTI and program staff to ensure seamless access to credentialing tools and resources.

The Social Security Administration has created a toolkit for school professionals that increases awareness about benefits for students, children with disabilities, and foster youth.

Understanding the resources and information in the SSA Educator Toolkit is critical for educators in transition planning, as it provides practical guidance on Social Security benefits, work incentives, and support programs. By leveraging this toolkit, educators can better assist students and families in navigating available resources, reducing barriers, and ensuring a smoother transition to post-school employment, education, and independence.

The toolkit includes:

• Eligibility requirements;
• Types of evidence we need from teachers and other school professionals;
• How to apply; and
• Benefits for students in foster care.

Check it out here!

You don’t know what you don’t know! As young people navigate a world filled with endless options, the sheer number of choices can often feel overwhelming. As educators, we have the privilege and responsibility of being knowledge centers to guide and inspire future generations. However, in order to effectively support our students, we must first ensure that we are well-informed ourselves. A key pathway we should know and often encourage students to take after school is that of career and technical education (CTE) exploration.

Career and technical education refer to programs and pathways that equip students with practical, hands-on skills, technical knowledge, and academic foundations to prepare them for high-demand careers and further education. CTE is designed to align with the needs of industries and the workforce, providing opportunities for students to explore and develop skills in specific career fields.

Something important to note is that while Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are designed to help students thrive and succeed after high school, their effectiveness depends on several factors. CTE equips students with industry-specific skills and prepares them for careers after high school, but to fully benefit from these opportunities, students must have a strong drive and motivation to succeed. That internal fire to excel in their chosen fields is what makes all the difference!

If you are looking for ways to talk with youth about CTE, please reach out to…

• PaTTAN Youth Engagement Specialists (YES):
• Hayley Penn, hpenn@pattankop.net
• Natasha Fletcher, nfletcher@pattankop.net
• Hunter Steinitz, hsteinitz@pattanpgh.net

Remember, empowering students begins with being equipped with the right knowledge and tools. Together, we can help young people achieve their post-secondary goals and build a brighter future.

Locate your local career tech ed center using this interactive google map.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Career and Technical Education (BCTE) contracts with NOCTI to provide credentialing tools and resources to support the state’s career and technical education (CTE) programs. Over the past 20 years of collaboration, the scope of the program has evolved from providing end-of-program assessment services to incorporating pre-testing and study guides, contracting for customized assessment development, developing custom reporting tools, and programming custom systems to include a Teacher Resource Center, with a goal of ensuring streamlined processes for managing the credentialing program at the local level. The importance of NOCTI to the state’s CTE programs is further evidenced by NOCTI’s inclusion in Pennsylvania legislation (House Bill 202, 2017).

A dedicated NOCTI project manager works with state and local leaders to assure all stakeholders are provided the support they need, and that professional development and training, resources, and technical support are available.

Click here to learn more about resources available through Pennsylvania's partnership with NOCTI.

The Education Resource Center is located at Penn State Greater Allegheny, near Pittsburgh. The primary goal of the Center is to provide technical support services to the field of career and technical education. The Center works with the staff of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Bureau of Career and Technical Education to achieve the goals of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) and other initiatives.

Looking for a place where you can Connect, Collect, & Contribute

to all things secondary transition?

Connect with people from across our state to collect

resources, share events and contribute stories about positive post-school outcomes!

Click here to create an account and login to join our PA Secondary Transition- Public Square.

Career and technical education (CTE) in Pennsylvania offers students the opportunity to develop critical skills through a combination of classes and hands-on learning experiences, which allow them to apply academics to real-world problems.

There are more than 80 career and technical education centers (CTC) across Pennsylvania that offer PDE-approved programs to thousands of students. These programs are built on foundations of academic rigor and high expectations for student learning and success. Students self-select to enroll in a CTC, and many participate in Advanced Placement or Honors courses within their local school district.

Learn more by visiting the Bureau of Career and Technical Education's website.

Are you looking to learn more information about transition?

The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) provides information, tools, and supports to assist multiple stakeholders to provide effective services and instruction for students and out-of-school youth with disabilities.

Check out their Training Resource Library.

If you're new to transition, be sure to check out Transition 101!

Date/Time/Location: February 10, 2025 – March 21, 2025 - Online

This online course is designed to equip teachers with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively implement work-based learning experiences for students with disabilities. Participants will explore the importance of work-based learning as a critical component of secondary transition planning and learn basic guidelines for creating sound, legal, and meaningful programs. The activities are designed to empower participants to develop a work-based learning toolkit that supports the implementation of course outcomes.

Target Audience:
Special Education Teachers, Transition Coordinators, Special Education Administrators

Credit: Act 48 clock hours

Cost: There is no cost for this course.

Registration Information:

You may register online by clicking on the name of the event on the PaTTAN Training Events Calendar.

The Transition Leadership Program at UMass Boston is now accepting Guest Student enrollments for the upcoming Spring semester. Their courses are offered fully online, making them easily accessible to professionals nationwide.

The program is currently offering two impactful courses designed for professionals supporting students with disabilities:

1. Career Development and Competitive Employment (SPE G 655)
   This course explores strategies for guiding students with disabilities in career development, skill-building, and preparation for competitive employment.
2. Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities (SPE G 656)
   This course focuses on preparing students with disabilities for success in higher education, including academic readiness, self-advocacy, and securing necessary accommodations.

While their regular program enrollment typically begins in the Fall semester, guest students have the unique opportunity to get started this Spring. Any courses completed as a guest student can be fully transferred into the program if you choose to matriculate in the Fall, allowing you to continue seamlessly toward earning their certificate.

Join us for the Bridging Knowledge to Know-How Conference, where educators, community partners, families, and youth come together to learn evidence based practices and tools that bridge the gap between knowledge and practice!

📅 Dates: July 28-31, 2025

📍 Location: State College, PA

🌟 Dive into sessions focused on:
🔹 Autism
🔹 Sensory Disabilities
🔹 Secondary Transition
🔹 Complex Instructional Needs

🔗 For more information check out our pattanpod: Watch/YouTube- https://bit.ly/4gcInXY Listen/Podcast- https://bit.ly/42pApar

Learn about the PA ABLE Savings Program!

A PA ABLE Savings Program account gives individuals with qualified disabilities and their families and friends a tax-free way to save for a wide range of disability-related expenses, while maintaining important benefits.

Discover the many ways you can use a PA ABLE Savings Program account to save private funds to support health, increased financial freedom, independence, and quality of life.

Some of the topics that we will discuss include: eligibility requirements for opening a PA ABLE account, the tax benefits of PA ABLE, and how PA ABLE account interacts with current benefits.

If you require accommodations to participate in this webinar, please contact PA ABLE at info@paable.gov.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Register

Connecting PA ABLE and Work Incentives for People with Disabilities

Experts will explain the PA ABLE Savings Program and Pennsylvania's Work Incentive Programs.

The PA ABLE Savings Program gives individuals with qualified disabilities a tax-free way to save for a wide range of disability-related expenses while maintaining important benefits.

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA), often referred to as benefits counseling, is an essential service to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities who receive SSA benefits. This webinar will offer an overview of WIPA's individualized work incentives planning, which can assist individuals to make informed choices about work.

If you require accommodations to participate in this webinar, please contact PA ABLE at info@paable.gov.

March 11, 2025

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Register

PA ABLE and Social Security Disability Programs

Experts will discuss how PA ABLE Savings Program and Social Security Disability Programs work together. You’ll hear from Diana Fishlock, outreach specialist for the PA ABLE Savings Program, and Frank Magni, Social Security Administration public affairs specialist.

The PA ABLE Savings Program gives individuals with qualified disabilities a way to save for disability-related expenses while maintaining important benefits and supporting health, independence, and quality of life. The Social Security Administration’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to adults and children who meet requirements for a qualifying disability and have limited income and resources.

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program pays benefits to individuals and certain family members if the individual is “insured.” While these two programs are different, the medical requirements are the same. Traditionally people receiving such benefits could only save a small amount, but ABLE accounts change the landscape, allowing people receiving these benefits to save for a house, a car, and other everyday expenses.

If you require accommodations to participate in this webinar, please contact PA ABLE at info@paable.gov.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Register

Are you looking for transition events across PA?

Don't forget to check the events calendar to stay up to date on all of the great events happening in PA and nationally related to secondary transition!

The Pennsylvania Community on Transition is a group of various stakeholders from across Pennsylvania who work collaboratively to ensure appropriate transition outcomes for Pennsylvania youth and young adults.

The Pennsylvania Community on Transition is a state leadership team consisting of representative from: the State Departments of Education, Health, Labor and Industry, and Human Services; Various Serving Agencies, Young Adults, Parent Organizations, Advocates, Higher Education, and Employers.

The shared vision and common goals of the Pennsylvania Community on Transition is achieved when all PA youth and young adults with disabilities:

• Successfully transition to the role of productive and participating adult citizens
• Are empowered to recognize their talents, strengths, and voice
• Have equal access to resources that will promote their full participation in the communities of their choice.

Email: pasecondarytransition@gmail.com
Website: https://www.pasecondarytransition.com/
Phone: 4128266878
Twitter: @hmangiskuntz