Pennsylvania's Secondary Transition Community of Practice: Partnering for Success

The Pennsylvania Secondary Transition Community of Practice is a statewide partnership of agencies, young adults, families, advocates, educators, and employers working together to improve transition outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities across Pennsylvania.

Get to Know PA Secondary Transition Community

We are a collaborative network of partners from diverse organizations committed to improving post-secondary education and employment outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities.

Meet Our Team

Our work is guided by representatives from the Departments of Education, Health, Labor & Industry, and Human Services, along with youth-serving agencies, young adults, families, advocates, higher education, and employers.

Working Together To Plan For Meaningful Secondary Transition

Our work is grounded in research and driven by strong partnerships. By aligning efforts across systems and using proven strategies, we support better outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities during the transition to adult life.

Transition Systems Framework

The Transition Systems Framework (TSF) is a structured, research-based approach that helps school teams improve transition programming by aligning practices with 13 predictors of post-school success. Through data collection, collaborative planning, and continuous improvement, TSF supports schools in building inclusive systems that prepare students with disabilities for life after high school.

Aligning IEPs

PA Secondary Transition deploys the Indicator 13 checklist to align all IEP efforts with our goal of achieving Indicator 13 compliance. Services and coordination are sought among the IEP team, LSE, and other statewide stakeholders to improve secondary transition outcomes for students across Pennsylvania.

Engaging Students, Families, Carers, & Educators

Our comprehensive multi-step process assesses, designs, monitors, and tests a student’s current academic and skill competency, future learning and training needs, and ongoing progress-based instruction readjustments. Involving the student’s family and educators from the start helps harness their unique insights and shared history to achieve more effective training and transition outcomes.

Involving Agency & Stakeholders

Engaging agency partners ensures students with disabilities access the services, supports, and connections they need for successful post-school outcomes. Collaboration fosters shared responsibility, reduces service gaps, and supports smoother transitions to adult life in areas like employment, education, and independent living.

A Collective Commitment to Transition Outcomes

Unifying partners around a shared purpose to support meaningful post-school success for all youth with disabilities.

Our Core Goals

The shared vision and common goals of the PA Secondary Transition Community of Practice are realized when students:

Successfully transition into productive, engaged adult roles.

Are empowered to recognize and use their talents, strengths, and voice.

Have equitable access to resources that support full participation in the communities of their choice.

Together, we transform plans into opportunities, and opportunities into bright, successful futures for every student, family, and community.

Collaborative Statewide Planning

Uniting Training, Projects, and Resources Across the Community of Practice

The Community of Practice fosters statewide collaboration through shared training opportunities, joint projects, and the creation of innovative resources—empowering partners to support seamless post-school success for youth with disabilities across Pennsylvania.

State plan