Families, Educators, and Agencies Working Together for Stronger Student Transitions
We work with schools, families, and community groups to help students get ready for life after high school. This includes attending college, securing a job, or living on their own.
Students
Family & Caregivers
Agency & Community Partners
Educators
What is Secondary Transition?
Secondary Transition Builds Futures
With the right services, supports, and team, students are prepared for postsecondary education, competitive integrated employment, and independent living.
Planning for secondary transition in Pennsylvania begins at age 14, or earlier when appropriate. From that point on, educators help students, guided by their strengths, goals, and needs, take meaningful steps toward:
In partnership with OVR, ODP, and statewide agencies, and under the Employment First approach, it is important to connect students to real-world work experiences, skill-building opportunities, and coordinated services that turn transition goals into lasting outcomes.
Shape Your Future
Three Types of Goals For the Secondary Transition Journey
Turning Plans Into Progress
A Step-by-Step Approach to Annual Secondary Transition Planning
Through meaningful assessments, focused goals, and aligned services, educators can create IEP transition plans that guide students toward real outcomes in education, employment, and independent living.
Starting With a Meaningful Assessment
It starts with age-appropriate transition assessments that center the student’s goals, strengths, and interests, so the plan reflects where they want to go, not just what the system expects.
Clarifying the Present Picture
Establish students’ current level of academic achievement and functional performance to create a strengths-based, current profile that informs meaningful transition planning.
Creating Real Post-School Goals
Establish strong Transition Team partnerships to develop measurable postsecondary goals that reflect each student’s strengths, preferences, and needs
Establishing the Transition Grid
This is where the plan becomes actionable. Aligning instruction, community experiences, job training, and related services that directly support the post-school goals.
Setting Annual Goals and Tracking Progress
At this step, monitor progress and adjust support so instruction stays aligned with each student’s long-term goals.
Making the Memorandum Work
OVR and BSE, United for Student Success
This series will overview the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement between the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and the Bureau of Special Education (BSE) pertaining to the provision of secondary transition services for students with disabilities. Throughout the series, participants will be introduced to tools for collaboration between OVR, BSE, Local Education Agencies (LEAs), youth, and families.
Download the MOU
Helpful Tools and Learning Resources
Not Sure Where to Start? Our Featured Resources Might Be Exactly What You Need
Public Square - The Community Portal
Your Hub to Connect, Share, and Stay Informed
The Public Square on the PA Secondary Transition website is a personalized community portal designed to help students, families, educators, LEAs, and associated service providers easily access, save, and share transition resources. It brings together tools, events, and collaboration opportunities, allowing each user to build a customized support collection tailored to their unique needs during the transition process.
Save transition resources like IEP planning guides, assessments, and toolkits to your personalized dashboard, so everything you need is just a click away.
Engage with local and statewide events, join discussions with students, educators, families, and community agencies, and stay informed about transition-focused news in your community.
Share what’s working in your school, agency, or home. Upload tools, tell success stories, or recommend strategies that support student transitions across Pennsylvania.
Events
Check out the calendar below to find an event of interest to you!
18
Dec 2025
01:00 pm - 02:30 pm
Teaching Better Behaviors: A Toolkit for Coaches, Part 2
25
Dec 2025
02:00 pm - 03:30 pm
Cleanup on Aisle 4! Responding to Behavioral Crises, Part 3
02
Oct 2026
05:30 pm - 07:00 pm
ODP- ODP Policy Team Virtual Office Hours (VOH) for Individuals and Families: Celebrating National Employment Disability Awareness Month in Collaboration with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (
05
Dec 2025
06:05 pm - 09:05 pm
Starting with the End in Mind: A 4-Part Series on Building an Inclusive Life for Students with Disabilities
17
Nov 2025
04:04 pm - 06:04 pm
Starting with the End in Mind: A 4-Part Series on Building an Inclusive Life for Students with Disabilities
15
Nov 2025
08:00 am - 05:00 pm
HELIX Conference: High Expectations for Students with Low Incidence Disabilities
02
Nov 2025
11:01 pm - 03:04 pm
Starting with the End in Mind: A 4-Part Series on Building an Inclusive Life for Students with Disabilities
18
Oct 2025
07:00 am - 04:00 pm
The Nuts and Bolts of Job Coaching
Fresh Updates from the PA Team
Stay up to date on the latest happenings related to secondary transition. Be sure to pass along the information to others who could benefit from these important details
Stay Updated
Get the latest insights, stories, and behind-the-scenes updates.
