Question:

Dear Priscilla,

We are attempting to create sample goals for our teachers for transition and post-secondary goals with objectives and benchmarks. Want to give the best information possible and would appreciate your advice. Do you have any tips? Also, do you have a sample?

Thanks so much, Gwen

Answer:

Hi Gwen,

Here are some tips and resources to help you with this important endeavor: Transition to postsecondary adult life. I am familiar with your program and know the energy your teachers put forth. My advice is to look at the following resources for information to help prepare your students for the next, and most important, steps toward adulthood. You may be familiar with some of these, others may be new. The sample goals and benchmarks blend the IDEA 2004 Transition requirements and California State Standard expectations. Make sure the goals and benchmarks you develop are measurable and accountable and provide the following information.

• WHO (student)
• WHEN (date)
• Does what (activity)
• WHERE (location)
• Criteria (percent)

Here are a few sample goals:

Independent Living Skills

By _______(date), ________(student) will acquire the necessary daily living skills to allow for independent functioning in a variety of environments by (benchmark) maintaining a well-groomed appearance and proper hygiene for 4/5 days at his/her job site.

Career awareness

By _______(date), ________(student) will identify and record his/her primary and secondary career goals in comparing the qualifications necessary for success in such occupations with his/her own abilities with 95% accuracy in Language Arts class.

By _______(date), ________(student) will complete a series of activities to prepare him/her for transition to employment and keep 4/5 vocationally related documents from the Regional Occupational Program in his/her career portfolio with 90% accuracy.

Employment

By ___ (date), ______ (student) will increase knowledge of general labor laws related to the employment of minors (e.g. work permits, hours of work, minimum wage and jobs permitted for minors) using the internet on 3 occasions in the school library.

Resources to explore include:

• CARS+ Secondary Transition Goals (a companion document to Handbook Essential California Content Standards) http://www.carsplus.org/publications.php
  The sample goals focus on the areas of self-determination and advocacy, awareness, career preparation, work experience and community awareness and success.

• The National Career Development Guidelines http://www.acrnetwork.org/ncdg.htm
  This tool focuses on preparing students with skills to transition to postsecondary training/jobs. There are links to classroom study and standards to future choices.

• High School Transition Portfolio developed by the Diagnostic Center Northern California
  This document can be downloaded at http://www.askaspecialist.ca.gov/trans.htm

• Four-Step Accommodation Model http://www.washington.edu/doit/CareerN/fourstep.html
  This model provides a process to help students learn to self-advocacy in postsecondary environments.

• Reality Check http://www.cacareerzone.org/index.html (click on flash license plate) This web site is geared to high school students and older youth. It takes students through the reality of the finances (budgeting) related to life after high school. Students estimate costs for rent, utilities, transportation, entertainment, and other expenses of adult living. It is definitely a REALITY CHECK!