Transition and Special Services

High school transition services are coordinated, personalized programs mandated for students with disabilities (usually by age 16) to prepare for life after graduation. They focus on three core pillars: education/training, employment, and independent living skills, such as budgeting, self-advocacy, and career exploration.

Transition and Special Courses Offered

Course Sequence Flow Chart

Transition 9 / FLT

Length and Credit: Year / 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Case manager recommendation
Grade Level(s): 9
This course will help students transition from middle to high school while making progress on individual goals. Students will learn self-advocacy skills, study skills, and organizational habits. Students will participate in a variety of learning strategies, including note-taking, self-reflection, discussion, and collaborative problem solving. Course content will focus on reading, writing, and problem-solving skills that are required in standard high school classes. Transitions 9 / FLT is a Pass / No Pass course and is other subject credit. To earn a pass students must have 75%-100% of the available points for the term (74% or below will not earn a pass).

Transition 10

Length and Credit: Year / 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Case manager recommendation
Grade Level(s): 10
This course will support students as they transition through their 10th grade year. Students will learn to harness their personal power by setting goals, building self-advocacy skills, and making productive choices. Students will participate in group discussion, self-evaluation, and relevant real-world problem solving. Course content will focus on the reading, writing, and mathematical skills students need to achieve success in standard high school classes.

Transition 11

Length and Credit: Year / 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Case manager recommendation
Grade Level(s): 11
This course will support students as they transition through their 11th grade year. Students will learn to harness their personal power by setting goals, building employability skills, and making productive choices. Students will participate in activities and research projects that are relevant to the real world, gaining a greater understanding of potential career fields, the full-scale process of applying for jobs, as well as the opportunity to start completing some of their Essential Skills requirements prior to taking the Smarter Balanced Assessments

Transition 12

Length and Credit: Year / 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Case manager recommendation
Grade Level(s): 12
This course will support students as they prepare to transition from high school to postsecondary education or employment. Students will focus on the completion of graduation requirements including credits, essential skills, senior project and Naviance tasks. Students will participate in a comprehensive practice of independent living skills and investigate and prepare for the options available to them after high school in terms of: housing, work, career path, and post-secondary education.

ALC Language Arts

Length and Credit: Year / 1.0 credit - other subject elective credit only
Prerequisite: Case manager recommendation
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is designed to help students improve in their reading comprehension strategies, inferential and analytical skills, and vocabulary practice. Students will learn active reading strategies and will learn how to identify and practice literary concepts, such as theme, facts vs. opinions, compare and contrast, and various literary elements of a story. Students will participate in daily large and small group activities, and practice reading aloud to continue to improve reading fluency and comprehension. They will also have the opportunity to improve their writing and proofreading skills through a variety of short writing assignments. Note: This course is designed to support students working toward a Certificate of Attendance.

Transition English

Length and Credit: Year / 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Case manager recommendation
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is designed for students to improve reading comprehension, inferential and analytical skills, vocabulary, as well as critical analysis of various literary forms using evidence from the texts. Students will improve their written communication through essay writing based upon grade level scoring rubrics. They will improve their use of the writing process through focused practice in editing and revising their work. Note: This course is taught by a teacher endorsed in English Language Arts. Students on a modified diploma may earn Language Arts (LA) credit toward a modified diploma.

ALC Math

Length and Credit: Year / 1.0 credit - other subject elective credit only
Prerequisite: Case manager recommendation
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is designed to teach students basic, functional math skills including to prepare them for adult life. Students will learn money and measurement skills pertaining to everyday life. Students will participate in daily large and small group repetition and individual practice to improve mastery of each concept. Note: This course is designed to support students working toward a Certificate of Attendance.

Transition Math

Length and Credit: Year / 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Case manager recommendation
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Transition Math topics include performing operations with integers, simplifying expressions, evaluating rational algebraic expressions, solving and graphing first degree equations in two variables, translating word problems into equations, and solving systems of equations with two variables. A scientific calculator is required for this course. Note: This course is taught by a teacher endorsed in Mathematics. Students on a modified diploma may earn Mathematics (MA) credit toward a modified diploma.

Social Development

Length and Credit: Year / 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Case manager recommendation
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
This course will help students from neurologically diverse backgrounds learn, build, and practice skills needed for social success. Students will learn a variety of strategies for self-management, executive function, and interpersonal skills. Topics include social communication, social awareness, social motivation, social cognition, and social relationships. Students will practice and participate in team-building, self-advocacy, and real-life social problem solving.

Vocational Skills

Length and Credit: Year / 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Case manager recommendation
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
This course will help students learn and develop vocational skills such as creating a resume, searching for jobs, applying for employment, workplace etiquette, and getting paid. Interpersonal relationships will also be discussed. Additionally, students will work in the greenhouse to learn real-life job skills related to a nursery with students planting and caring for vegetable seeds and starts as well as flower baskets. Students will then have the opportunity to participate in a greenhouse sale in the spring.

Lifeskills (IEP Placement)

Length and Credits: Placement
Prerequisite: Approved Placement by IEP Team and Lane ESD
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Subject Area: OS
Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) who qualify for a placement in the Life Skills Program receive instruction in a separate special education setting facilitated by Lane Education Service District staff on-site at Thurston High School.

Licensed Special Education teachers and specialists provide specially designed instruction in core academic courses, vocational skills, social skills, and adaptive functioning.