Transition

The Massachusetts Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership (CDEP) provides opportunities for Massachusetts high school students to take college-level courses for free or at a discounted price and earn credit toward high school completion and their future college degrees. CDEP eases…

"BSEA Hearing Officer Amy Reichbach held that the communications and materials of non-lawyer special education advocates are subject to the protections of the work product doctrine.  The hearing officer reasoned that such protection is necessary in order to minimize the potential chilling effect…

From theu Guide's Preface:  This Guide was created to assist students and youth with disabilities to achieve their post-school and career goals, Congress enacted two key statutes that address the provision of transition services: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and…

Hearing Officer Ann Scannell  issued a decision reported at 19 Massachusetts Special Education Reporter (MSER) 264 in which she found that Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District failed to include in the student’s IEP the transition services to which he is entitled by law. His…

Transition Age Youth Resources This is a document where we can all add links to certain categories of information pertinent to transition age youth in Massachusetts: 1.       Existing direct service resources or resource guides DMH Young Adult Resource…

Chapter 688 provides a two-year planning process at graduation from high school or at the time when special education services end, whichever comes first. Since special education services can continue until age 22, the process is sometimes called the “Turning 22” process.  Click…

Federal Court Decides Dracut Appeal; Agrees transition services were denied but disagrees with suggested relief U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris has now ruled on Dracut School District’s appeal of the first two decisions, both of which were favorable to the student.  While…

S. Lessard, a mutliply-handicapped student, attended Crotched Mountain Rehab Center in NH.  Parents advocated for her to move to a less restrictive environment, leaving Crotched Mountain and receiving home and community-based supports.  The appellate court found that Crotched Mountain provided FAPE…

Booklet developed by DDS (previously DMR) on transition for students leaving high school. Information on chapter 688, DDS and many resources.

Hearing Officer found that student with Aspergers Syndrome was entitled to two years of compensatory services to provide transition support that he did not receive previously although evaluations and student's progress indicated he needed these services.

Section of the Massachusetts General Laws, also known as Chapter 688, which describes the requirements to plan for services for disabled students who will no longer be eligible for special education services once they graduate or turn 22. M.G.L. ch. 71BM.G.L. - Chapter 71b, Section 12c The General…

Webpage on mass.gov with information on the law, appeals available when an adult agency refuses eligibility for a student, and contact information for relevant state agencies, including the Bureau of Transitional Planning (BTP). BTP is the final recourse for students who have lost their appeal to be…

Section of the Code of Federal Regulations that defines Transition services, describing transition as a results-oriented process.

Department of Mental Health web site which contains eligibility determination information. Link to "Determining Eligibility for Mental Health Services"

Department of Mental Health Statutes, Regulations & Policies               

Student with Downs Syndrome did not receive an adequate IEP, and the school did not communicate adequately with parents. The District was ordered to reimburse parents for tuition at a prvate school - the GROW Program at Riverview School The hearing officer placed great weight on the testimony of Dr…