Plan for the Future

We believe in preparing our special education students for life both inside and outside the classroom. That means giving them the tools they need now, so when they leave DCPS they can become successful adults holding good jobs, living independently and engaging in the community.

The Office of Special Education is working to expand the services, supports and programs available to provide special education students with the opportunity to explore their future. These services, called transition services, focus on helping students learn the self-advocacy skills needed to live independently, pursue a college degree or practice job skills and search for the right career.

It is crucial that both parents and their children are active participants in planning for the future. There are some important milestones at which a child’s IEP team should be reaching out to the parents, so that both the student and parents can discuss and make some crucial decisions about the future.

Ultimately, planning for life after high school means that students will be asked to think about the following questions:

• Who am I?
• What do I want in life, now and in the future?
• What are some of life’s demands that I can meet now?
• What are the main obstacles to getting what I want from school and community?
• What are my options in the school and community for preparing me for what I want now and in the future?

DCPS and the Office of Special Education are here to help our students find their best path, customized to what they want.

To learn more about how you will work with the IEP team to plan for the child’s future, visit Planning for the Future with the IEP Team. Or click any of the links below to explore on your own.

• Exploring The Future With Your Child
• Is My Child On Track to Graduate?
• Planning with the IEP Team
• Transition Services and Programs
• Need Help?