Public Act 0187 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0979 Enrolled LRB096 04295 NHT 14341 b

Public Act 096-0187

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 14-8.03 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/14-8.03) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-8.03)

Sec. 14-8.03. Transition goals, supports, and services.

(a) For purposes of this Section, "transition services" means a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that (i) is designed to be within a results-oriented process that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child's movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation; (ii) is based on the individual child's needs, taking into account the child's strengths, preferences, and interests; and (iii) includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and, if appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills, benefits planning, work incentives education, and the provision of a functional vocational evaluation. Transition services for a child with a disability may be special education, if provided as specially designed instruction, or a related service if required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education.

(a-5) Beginning no later than the first individualized education plan (IEP) in effect when the student turns age 14 1/2 (or younger if determined appropriate by the IEP Team) and updated annually thereafter, the IEP must include (i) measurable post-secondary goals based upon age-appropriate transition assessments and other information available regarding the student that are related to training, education, employment, and, where appropriate, independent living skills and (ii) the transition services needed to assist the student in reaching those goals, including courses of study. A school district shall consider, and develop when needed, the transition goals and supports for eligible students with disabilities not later than the school year in which the student reaches age 14 1/2 at the individualized education plan meeting and provide services as identified on the student's individualized education plan. Transition goals shall be based on appropriate evaluation procedures and information, take into consideration the preferences of the student and his or her parents or guardian, be outcome-oriented, and include employment, post-secondary education, and community living alternatives. Consideration of these goals shall result in the clarification of a school district's responsibility to deliver specific educational services such as vocational training and community living skills instruction.

(b) Transition planning must be conducted as part of the IEP process and must be governed by the procedures applicable to the development, review, and revision of the IEP, including notices to the parents and student, parent and student participation, and annual review. To appropriately assess and develop IEP transition goals and transition services for a child with a disability plan for the student's transition needs, additional participants individualized education plan team members may be necessary and may be invited asked by the school district, parent, or student to participate assist in the transition planning process. Additional participants individualized education plan team members may include without limitation a representative from the Department of Human Services or another State agency, a case coordinator, or persons representing other public or community agencies or services, such as adult service providers or public community colleges. The IEP individualized education plan shall identify specify each person responsible for coordinating and delivering transition services. If the IEP team determines that the student requires transition services from a public or private entity outside of the school district, the IEP team shall identify potential outside resources, assign one or more IEP team members to contact the appropriate outside entities, make the necessary referrals, provide any information and documents necessary to complete the referral, follow up with the entity to ensure that the student has been successfully linked to the entity, and monitor the student's progress to determine if the student's IEP transition goals and benchmarks are being met. The student's IEP shall indicate one or more specific time periods during the school year when the IEP team shall review the services provided by the outside entity and the student's progress in such activities. The public school's responsibility for delivering educational services does not extend beyond the time the student leaves school or when the student's eligibility ends due to age under this Article student reaches age 21 inclusive, which for purposes of this Article means the day before the student's 22nd birthday.

(c) A school district shall submit annually a summary of each eligible student's IEP transition goals and transition services needed supports resulting from the IEP Team individualized education plan team meeting to the appropriate local Transition Planning Committee. If students with disabilities who are ineligible for special education services request transition services, local public school districts shall assist those students by identifying post-secondary school goals, delivering appropriate education services, and coordinating with other agencies and services for assistance.

(Source: P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

Effective Date: 8/10/2009