Student-Centered Transitions Network

What's Trending in Transition

February 2021
WHAT'S NEW
Inclusion in Texas Accessibility and Specialization Tools
The Inclusion in Texas Network has been working to develop accessibility and
specialization tools that will help teachers more easily provide supports to their students. These free tools can be found under the Accessibility and Specialization Tools tab on the network webpage. Each accommodation has a drop-down menu that provides links to tools to provide the accommodation or specialization. The list of tools will continue to expand with additional resources, so keep checking back. 
Meet the SCTN Leadership Team!
Dr. Vickie Mitchell, Lead for the Student-Centered Transitions Network
Dr. Vickie Mitchell is the Executive Director of the Garrett Center on Transition and Disability Studies, as well as the Eleanor and Charles Garrett Endowed Chair in Special Education for the College of Education at Sam Houston State University, and an Associate Professor in the School of Teaching and Learning at Sam Houston State University.

Her teaching and research interests include transition services, self-determination practices, work-based learning, and program evaluations of all areas of transition services.

When asked what her motto is, she said, "I adopted this motto from my husband who got up every morning and said, 'Another day in which to excel.' It really does set the benchmark for the day and makes you smile when you say it."
TED SPOTLIGHT
Highlights for Transition and Employment Designees

Did you know that there are great self-determination assessments and resources available on the University of Kansas Beach Center on Disability website? As one of the national experts on self-determination with which the Student-Centered Transitions Network frequently collaborates, Dr. Michael Wehmeyer, the Director of the Beach Center on Disability, and his team have developed great tools and assessments for educators, parents, and students.

As you plan for transition assessments this semester, be sure to take a look at this free self-determination assessment from the Beach Center on Disability that you can use with your students, parents, and teachers. The Self-Determination Inventory (SDI) is available as an assessment for students ages 13-22, parents, teachers, and adults ages 18 and older.
TRANSITION RESOURCES
Connecting to college and career readiness
Have you visited the Jobs Y'all website launched by the Texas Workforce Commission to raise awareness about the opportunities and benefits of fast-growing industries in Texas? This website has lots of great resources to help students learn more about in-demand careers.
Black outline of Texas with yellow logo of Jobs Yall
In addition to student resources, this website also provides resources to help parents, teachers, counselors, and mentors explore top industries and help students develop career goals.

Some of the resources include:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Have the eligibility requirements for earning an endorsement changed for students that receive special education services as a result of the 86th Legislative Session (June 2019)?
Yes. The 86th Legislative Session passed House Bill 165 (HB165), which allows a student that has completed the required courses and credits on the Foundation High School Program, including additional credits in math, science, electives, and the courses required for the endorsement with or without modifications* to the curriculum, to earn an endorsement beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. This information is also found in the Texas Education Code (TEC) 28.025 (c-7).
 
*When an ARD committee determines that modifications to the curriculum are required, the ARD committee must also ensure that the curriculum remains sufficiently rigorous in order for the student to retain eligibility for an endorsement.
 
Additionally, HB165 states that the student's ARD committee shall determine whether the student is required to achieve satisfactory performance on an end-of-course assessment to earn an endorsement on the student's transcript.
 
Before the 2019-2020 school year, a student receiving special education services was required to complete the courses and credits on the Foundation High School Program, including additional credits in math, science, electives, and the courses required for the endorsement (with or without modified curriculum), the course requirements of at least one endorsement (which did not contain any modified curriculum), and pass at least three end-of-course assessments, to earn an endorsement. HB165 now replaces these requirements for currently enrolled students.

Rulemaking has begun for the Commissioner's Rules related to the graduation requirements above, so stay tuned to the Commissioner's Rules on the Texas Education Agency website for more information about the rule adoption.


Student-Centered Transitions Network |Texas Transition

Content in this e-newsletter is provided in partnership with the Student-Centered Transitions Network and the Texas Education Agency.