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May 2024

Volume 12, Issue 3

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Topics

• Introduction

• Transition Contacts Meeting

• Project 10 Presentations

• Data Gathering and Problem-Solving: ESE Parent Survey Activity

• Deferment of Receipt of a Standard Diploma- Did You Know?

• Future Events Involving Project 10

• Keep Yourself in the Loop by Following Project 10 on Facebook



Introduction

Each year, the Florida Division on Career Development and Transition (FLDCDT) sponsors a statewide conference (“VISIONS”) that brings together Florida secondary transition and career planning stakeholders, including students, educators, and agency professionals, for the purposes of collaboration, teaching, learning, and inspiration. As the state-designated technical assistance center for secondary transition, Project 10 was thrilled to be heavily engaged in the 2024 VISIONS conference. Project 10 provided multiple breakout sessions on various and timely transition topics, hosted a resource and information table, and developed and facilitated a data-gathering and problem-solving activity to help close out the large event. Furthermore, Project 10 organized an informative and lively statewide Transition Contacts Meeting (TCM) just prior to the official start of VISIONS.

The May 2024 Topical Brief provides Project 10 highlights and resources from the 30^th annual Florida VISIONS conference held at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center April 9-11, 2024 in Orlando, Florida.



Transition Contacts Meeting

Project 10 assists the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) with the facilitation of an annual Transition Contacts Meeting (TCM) that typically precedes the start of the VISIONS conference. The 2024 TCM was held on April 9 and featured a wealth of information and updates related to secondary transition topics, including:

• BEESS secondary transition presentation by Jenny Duggar, State Transition Lead.
• Transition assessment resources and school district dissemination plan.
• District Support Summary (DSS) data review.
• Successful transition strategies activity conducted in a “Family Feud” style with audience participation.

For more information on some of the available resources and information presented during the TCM, please visit Project 10’s “Past Conferences/Webinar Materials and Presentations” section under the “What’s New” tab located here: http://project10.info/WhatsNew.php#NS103.



Project 10 Presentations

VISIONS offered a plethora of break-out sessions for attendees which provided access to professional development and learning opportunities within the following five domains:

• Curriculum and Learning
• Employment
• Family
• Postsecondary Education
• Systems Change

Project 10’s six Regional Transition Representatives (RTRs) facilitated multiple secondary transition presentations across the three-day conference. The titles and brief descriptions are as follows:

Using Deferment and 18-22 Transition Programming to Support Postsecondary Readiness for Students with Disabilities

(VISIONS domain: Curriculum and Learning)

This comprehensive training assists school district personnel in developing a solid understanding of the process and eligibility requirements for deferring a student’s high school diploma. Included are federal and state legislation and timelines of required deferment-related activities.

Writing Effective Transition Individual Education Plans

(VISIONS domain: Systems Change)

This evidence-based training provides an in-depth view of various transition planning activities by using secondary transition scenarios to develop effective and compliant transition individual education plans that support students in achieving successful post-school outcomes. Topics covered include age-appropriate transition assessments, standard diploma options, transfer of rights, required transition components and timelines, and deferral of receipt of a standard diploma.

The Future Starts Now: Preparing for Secondary Transition in Middle School

(VISIONS domain: Curriculum and Learning)

This presentation highlights activities and strategies that support students transitioning from elementary school to middle school and from middle school to high school. Relevant legislation, timelines, and resources are provided.

Updates on Transition-Related Legislation in Florida

(VISIONS domain: Systems Change)

This presentation explores some of the new transition-related legislation that was passed in 2023 and details why this legislation is crucial for students with disabilities. Legislative topics include the following: age of majority, transfer of rights, guardianship, graduation requirements, career planning activities, and deferment of receipt of a standard diploma.

For more information and resources related to P10 presentations at VISIONS, please visit http://project10.info/DPage.php?ID=188. Project 10 offers a multitude of presentations, trainings and technical assistance to school districts, and other relevant secondary transition stakeholders. Reach out to a Regional Transition Representative to learn more about learning and training opportunities by visiting P10’s “Training by Request” page (http://project10.info/DPage.php?ID=319) and linking to the document “Project 10 Training List with RTR Contact Information”.



Data Gathering and Problem-Solving:

ESE Parent Survey Activity

At the conclusion of VISIONS, Project 10, in collaboration with FLDCDT, facilitated a multi-part activity that used historical and recent exceptional student education (ESE) Parent Survey data related to secondary transition-age youth to support data-analysis and problem solving. Conference attendees discussed data trends, identified and prioritized barriers and hypothesis, and, in multiple subgroups, developed a list of potential solutions to support improvement of communication with parents and improve parent satisfaction in future survey data.



For context, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) surveys parents of students with an individual educational plan to determine how well districts and schools are partnering with parents and promoting parent involvement in their student’s education. All states must collect these data annually for reporting on their State Performance Plan, as required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Additionally, survey results will be used to help schools and districts improve services and outcomes for students with disabilities.

The survey will be open through June 30, 2024. For more information about the 2023-2024 ESE Parent Survey, go to the FDOE ESE Parent Survey web page (https://www.fldoe.org/academics/exceptional-student-edu/parent-info/exceptional-student-edu-parent-survey.stml).

For questions, contact Patricia Bodiford, Senior Educational Program Director, Instructional Support Services, at Patricia.Bodiford@fldoe.org or

850-245-0475.



Deferment of Receipt of a Standard Diploma: Did You Know?

Only students with disabilities (and who have met graduation requirements for a standard diploma) may be eligible to defer receipt of their standard diploma, per Section 1003.4282 (8)(c), Florida Statutes. Furthermore, potentially eligible students must also:

• Have an individual education plan that prescribes special education, transition planning, transition services, or related services through age 21; and
• Is enrolled in accelerated college credit instruction pursuant to s. 1007.27, industry certification courses that lead to college credit, an early college program, courses necessary to satisfy the Scholar designation requirements, or a structured work-study, internship, or pre-apprenticeship program.

Note that deferment eligibility is not limited to a particular student disability classification or category!



Future Events Involving Project 10

There are a few exciting conferences and/or events in store for educators, secondary transition professionals, families and/or other relevant stakeholders. Please see the summary information below and mark your calendars accordingly!

Keep Yourself in the Loop by Following Project 10 on Facebook



Would you like to be part of our amazing transition community? Project 10 provides weekly information on transition-related events and topics, products and training launches, and other important state and project announcements. Please follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/project10usfsp, or simply type “Project 10 Transition” into your Facebook search function to find us. Be sure to like, follow and share us - and help spread the news!



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About Project 10 Topical Briefs:

Project 10 Topical Briefs provide informational summaries and resource links related to secondary transition.

Have a question? Want to find or recommend a resource? Have some great news to share?

Email us at project10@stpete.usf.edu.

For back issues of Project 10 Topical Briefs, visit our Topical Briefs page on the Project 10 website.

Project 10: Transition Education Network

Assists Florida school districts and relevant stakeholders in building capacity to provide secondary transition services to students with disabilities in order to improve their academic success and post-school outcomes.

Project 10: Transition Education Network

University of South Florida St. Petersburg

Questions or comments?

Email us at project10@stpete.usf.edu.

www.project10.info