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Transition-Related Skills IEP goals

Transition-related skills prepare students for life after school: knowing their interests, explaining what helps them, completing forms, and showing reliable work behaviors. Under federal rules, the IEP in effect when a student turns 16 must include measurable postsecondary goals and transition services (34 CFR §300.320(b)), and many states start earlier, often at 14. Middle school goals can build the foundation for that planning.

45 templates · How we write and review goals

Sample transition-related skills goals

Numbers are illustrative; set targets from the student's own baseline (how templates are made).

  • 6-8, 9-12Rubric score

    Complete a job-match reflection after an interest inventory

    Connecting interests to jobs

    By the annual IEP review date, after completing a career interest inventory and exploring a matched job profile, the student will complete a job-match reflection sheet independently, earning a score of at least 6 out of 8 on a 4-row job-match reflection rubric (0–2 per row), on 3 consecutive job-match reflections, as measured by a defined scoring rubric collected every two weeks.

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  • 6-8, 9-12Opportunities

    Name accommodations for a job or training setting

    Connecting own accommodations to future settings

    By the annual IEP review date, during a transition planning activity that describes a job, training, or volunteer setting, the student will name one current accommodation and explain how it could help with a specific task in that setting independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected twice monthly during planned practice opportunities.

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  • 6-8, 9-12Percent accuracy

    Complete the personal-information section of a practice application

    Completing a practice job application

    By the annual IEP review date, given a fictional one-page practice job application and a completed model, the student will complete the personal-information section of the practice application using a personal information card with at least 90% accuracy on required personal-information fields, on 3 consecutive practice applications, as measured by work-sample analysis collected every two weeks.

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  • 6-8, 9-12Rubric score

    Meet workplace expectations during a school-based job

    Workplace behaviors during a school job

    By the annual IEP review date, during a 30-minute school-based job, such as shelving library books or collecting recycling, the student will complete the assigned job shift while following the posted work expectations with end-of-shift feedback only, earning a score of at least 10 out of 12 on a 4-row workplace behavior rubric (0–3 per row), on 3 of 4 consecutive scored shifts, as measured by a defined scoring rubric collected weekly.

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  • 6-8, 9-12Opportunities

    Arrive on time for a scheduled job

    Time-keeping for scheduled activities

    By the annual IEP review date, when scheduled for a school job, club, or appointment at a set time during the school day, the student will arrive at the scheduled job or activity by its start time independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, for 3 consecutive weeks, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.

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  • 6-8, 9-12Task-analysis steps

    Complete a school job from check-in to check-out

    Completing a school job routine

    By the annual IEP review date, during a scheduled school job sorting and delivering staff mail, the student will complete the school job routine from check-in to check-out using a written job checklist, performing at least 7 of 9 steps independently, on 3 consecutive job shifts, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected at each scheduled shift (at least weekly).

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  • 6-8, 9-12Rubric score

    Lead part of own IEP meeting

    Student-led IEP meeting

    By the annual IEP review date, during the annual IEP meeting, using a prepared one-page profile or slide deck, the student will present the student-led portion of the IEP meeting independently, earning a score of at least 8 out of 10 on a 5-row student-led IEP rubric (0 to 2 per row), on 2 consecutive meetings or practice meetings, as measured by a defined scoring rubric collected at each practice meeting (monthly) and at the annual meeting.

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  • 9-12Opportunities

    State own postsecondary goals with next steps

    Stating postsecondary goals

    By the annual IEP review date, when asked by a teacher, counselor, or family member about plans after high school, the student will state a postsecondary goal for employment and for education or training, with one next step for each independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected twice monthly during planned conversations.

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  • 9-12Rubric score

    Complete a one-page resume from a template

    Writing a resume

    By the annual IEP review date, given a resume template and a list of own school jobs, volunteer roles, and classes, the student will complete a one-page resume using the template independently, earning a score of at least 10 out of 12 on a 6-row resume rubric (0 to 2 per row), on 2 consecutive resume drafts, as measured by a defined scoring rubric collected monthly, at each draft or update.

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  • 9-12Rubric score

    Answer common questions in a mock job interview

    Mock job interview

    By the annual IEP review date, during a mock interview with a staff member who asks five common interview questions, the student will answer the interview questions in the mock interview independently, earning a score of at least 10 out of 12 on a 6-row mock interview rubric (0 to 2 per row), on 3 consecutive mock interviews, as measured by a defined scoring rubric collected every two weeks.

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  • 9-12Percent accuracy

    Research a job or program and record facts

    Researching a job or program

    By the annual IEP review date, given a job title or training program name and a research sheet, with access to the internet, the student will complete the research sheet with facts about the job or program independently with at least 85% accuracy on research sheet items completed correctly, on 3 consecutive research sheets, as measured by work-sample analysis collected every two weeks.

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  • 6-8, 9-12Opportunities

    Choose between two options and give a reason

    Making and explaining choices

    By the annual IEP review date, when offered two real choices in planning, such as two elective courses, two school job rotations, or two club options, the student will choose one option and state one reason for the choice independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection periods, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected at each planned choice, at least twice monthly.

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33 more transition-related skills templates

Each opens in the builder with its sample goal, notes, objectives, and data sheet.

What transition-related skills involves

  • Using interest inventories and job exploration to connect interests and strengths to careers
  • Describing own accommodations and how they help
  • Completing the personal-information section of forms, using practice forms
  • Showing workplace behaviors such as checking in, staying on task, and asking for help
  • Keeping track of time and arriving at scheduled activities on time

Baseline and measurement considerations

  • Rubrics fit multi-part performances, such as a job-match reflection or behavior during a work shift; define each score level.
  • Opportunities fit repeated events, such as being asked about accommodations or arriving at a scheduled job.
  • Task analysis fits the steps of a school job routine, including recording start and end times.
  • Note the response mode (written, spoken, typed, pictures) so data stay comparable.

Progress-monitoring methods used in these templates

  • Rubric scoring: Work or performance is scored against written criteria with defined score levels.
  • Opportunity (trial) recording: Each planned or naturally occurring opportunity is recorded as correct/independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.
  • Work-sample analysis: Scoring completed student work (permanent products) against a defined answer key or checklist.
  • Task-analysis checklist: A routine is broken into ordered steps; each step is recorded as independent, supported, or not completed.

How each measure works

Matching data sheets

Each template links to a blank sheet built for its measure. You can also download these sheets on their own:

  • Rubric tracker: Scores each rubric criterion and totals the score for each sample.
  • Opportunity tracker: Records each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.
  • Accuracy tracker: Number correct out of number attempted, with percent accuracy and support level.
  • Task-analysis checklist: Marks each step of a routine as independent, with support, or not completed across sessions.

Common mistakes when writing transition-related skills goals

  • Writing "will explore careers" with no product or behavior that can be scored.
  • Confusing postsecondary goals (what the student will do after school) with annual goals that build toward them.
  • Claiming that transition goals are federally required before age 16 without checking state rules.
  • Using real application systems or sharing personal information outside the classroom during practice.

Frequently asked questions

When must transition planning start?

Federally, transition planning must be in the IEP in effect when the student turns 16, or younger if the IEP team decides it is appropriate (34 CFR §300.320(b)). Many states require it earlier, often at 14. Check your state's rules.

Are these goals the same as postsecondary goals?

No. Postsecondary goals describe what the student plans to do after leaving school, such as training, education, employment, and, where appropriate, independent living. The annual goals here describe skills the student builds this year toward those outcomes.

How can we practice job applications safely?

Use fictional practice forms that are never submitted anywhere. Prepare a personal information card with the family, store it securely, and keep or shred completed practice forms at school.

Who should be involved in middle school transition goals?

The student first, along with the family, case manager, school counselor, and any transition specialist. Job supervisors for school-based jobs can collect rubric data once they know how to score it.

References

IEP Atlas Pro

Turn these goals into progress reports

Pro tracks every goal on your caseload and drafts the report for you. Free for 14 days.

Count trials, prompts, and minutes live in the session; the graph and trend line draw themselves; progress reports are drafted from your data.