SEA’s Must Reserve 15-30% of N or D Funds for Transition!

1. SEA’s Must Reserve 15-30% of N or D Funds for Transition! Transition Must Be Important! Title I, Part D, Transition Conference October 12 -14, 2004 National Evaluation and TA Center for the Education of Children Who Are Neglected, Delinquent or At Risk

2. Transition is Important! • The Law Requires It • Lessons Learned: What We Know • How the TA Center Can Help NETAC Portland Transition Conference

3. What We Know? • “We can, whenever and where ever we choose, successfully teach all children whose schooling is of interest to us.” —Ron Edmunds, Pioneer Educator • Education is the only equalizer for these kids. (Anonymous) NETAC Portland Transition Conference

4. “Ah- Hah” Moments You Have Probably Had About Need for Transition Planning! • A huge gap exists for youth between community schools and detention or correctional facilities and/or children changing schools due to other out-of-home placements • A huge gap exists between institutional schools and community schools when children and youth go back again to their homes, community schools or to work • Congress and the U.S. Department of Education agree with practitioners that there is insufficient, if any, formalized transition planning and support to protect the educational progress made • More youth return to school when they are encouraged and supported by the adults in their lives NETAC Portland Transition Conference

5. Effective Transition Planning • Joint planning for transition to and from placement • Timely transfer of records whenever student’s move from one placement to another • Family involvement in planning and implementation of plan • Family supports and services to make the plan work • Caring adult, who prioritizes education, to advocate for the youth and his family through the transition process NETAC Portland Transition Conference

6. Social Skills Survival skills Independent living skills Pre-employment training Law-related education Fun Fun Fun Equip Youth to Meet Their Most Basic Needs First! NETAC Portland Transition Conference

7. Transportation stipends A Mentor Alcohol and drug abuse counseling Vocational assessment and counseling Work experience and placement Health education Training for parenthood Driver’s education Work and Non-Traditional Supports to Include NETAC Portland Transition Conference

8. Because The Laws Say So! • Section 1401 in NCLB • JJDP Act, Title II • IDEA Sub Part 14, Section 5541 NETAC Portland Transition Conference

9. It Really Is the Law! • Gary Rutkin talked about Section 1401 of NCLB and the requirement to provide services needed to make successful transitions to further schooling and to prevent students from dropping out of the education process. Youth in facilities that are for neglected or delinquent youth must be prioritized by their SEAs in an effort to assure their ability to compete with their non-institutionalized peers. NETAC Portland Transition Conference

10. It Really is the Law x 2! • Title II of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002 requires states to provide comprehensive juvenile justice and delinquency prevention programs that meet the needs of youth through collaboration with other agencies and local systems before which youth may appear, including school, cw, mh, health care orgs, law enforcement agencies, courts….. It specifically requires: 1) educational programs to encourage juveniles to stay in middle, secondary and/or alternative schools; 2) To provide services to assist juveniles in making the transition to the world of work and self sufficiency, and enhance coordination with local schools that such juveniles would otherwise attend; 3) Assure that the instruction juveniles receive outside their schools be closely aligned with the instruction provided in their home schools; and any information regarding learning disabilities identified in other placements be communicated to the schools. NETAC Portland Transition Conference

11. It is the Law x 3! • The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act ensures that all children with disabilities have available to them a free and appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for employment and independent living. (Parts B & C of IEP Process) • IDEA requires transitions plans be included for special education students 14 years old and older. It also requires that plans for children over 16 include vocational plans NETAC Portland Transition Conference

12. It is the Right Thing To Do! • These children are among the most vulnerable in our society and they have a right to a free and appropriate public education. • The cost of one high school dropout is expected to be over $200K in his/her lifetime.—Joan Heilbrunn and Ken Seeley, 2002, • The cost of allowing one youth to leave school for a life of crime and of drug abuse is $1,700,000 -$2,300,000 annually. — Title II of the Reauthorization of the JJDP Act of 2002. • “We can, whenever and wherever we choose, successfully teach all children whose education is of interest to us.”— Ron Edmunds, Pioneer Educator NETAC Portland Transition Conference