A transition plan is the section of the IEP that looks past graduation and asks a bigger question: what happens next? It sets goals for life after high school in areas like further education, employment, and independent living, and it lays out the steps and services that will help a student get there. Federal law requires it to be in place by a certain age — in many states by sixteen, and some states start earlier.
The plan should be built around your child's own interests, strengths, and goals, gathered through age-appropriate assessments. A student who wants to work with animals, live in an apartment, or attend community college should see those aims reflected in concrete steps: job sampling, self-advocacy skills, travel training, or coursework that keeps the right doors open. It is meant to be a roadmap, not a formality.
Your child should be invited to the meeting where transition is discussed, and their voice should shape it. As a parent, this is the time to think years ahead and push for real preparation, not vague hopes. Ask how each goal will be worked on this year and who is responsible. A strong transition plan turns "we'll figure it out senior year" into steady, deliberate progress toward adulthood.
General information and document preparation — not legal advice.