New York

Education Specialist: 
Sophie McDermott
Email: 
SMCDERMO@MAIL.NYSED.GOV
Phone: 
(518) 486-7462
Address: 

Program & Develop. Support Services
New York State Education Dept.
One Commerce Plaza, Room 1624
Albany, NY 12234

Interagency Council: 
Interagency Workgroups
Alternative Diplomas: 
Regents Diploma Local Diploma IEP diploma
Alternative Pathways: 
Safety net for students with disabilities http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/localdiplomaoptions-may2011.htm

 

Summary of Performance:

www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/idea/exitsumm.htm

State Transition Resources:

The Effective College Planning Guide is a useful resource for teachers, parents, and students.
Effective College Planning Guide

This site provides access to a variety of resources relating to transition services in NY.
NY Transition Services Site

The resources and materials within this section are designed to assist schools, students and families with the transition from school to post-school. A successful transition process is based on the student's strengths, preferences and interests, and requires collaboration between the school district, student, family and community agencies. Transition planning and services are designed to prepare a student with a disability to achieve his or her post-secondary goals related to living, learning and earning within the community.
NY State Transition Resources Link

The resources and materials within the Transition from School to Post-School website assists schools, students and families with the transition from school to post-school. A successful transition process is based on the student's strengths, preferences and interests, and requires collaboration between the school district, student, family and community agencies. Transition planning and services are designed to prepare a student with a disability to achieve his or her post-secondary goals related to living, learning and earning within the community.
Transition from School to Post-School Website

The Office of Special Education of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has established the Transition Services Professional Development Support Center (PDSC) at Cornell University. With the addition of the Transition Services PDSC, New York State now has a comprehensive system of State and regionally-based professional development support to school districts needing to improve transition planning and transition-related instructional services and supports for students with disabilities. The Transition Services PDSC will also provide a web-based resource for transition services and planning for all school districts.
Transition Services Professional Development Support Center

Transition Specialists (www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/techassist/rsetasc/tslist.htm)

Regional Special Education Technical Assistance Support Centers (RSE-TASC) are specifically structured with resources that will provide expertise to school districts to improve core instructional programs that research has shown to be effective for students with disabilities and to provide improved coordination of regional resources and accountability to NYSED for results.  Each RSE-TASC includes both regional technical assistance specialists and special education school improvement specialists who are located within each Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and in each of the Big Five School Districts (Buffalo, New York City, Syracuse, Rochester and Yonkers).  Within each RSE-TASC, there are Transition Specialists to work with school districts to improve the school to post school transition planning process for students with disabilities. 

Professional Development Resources:

  • Transition Specialists - www.p12.nysed.gov/techassist/rsetasc/tslist.htm
  • NYSED Transition Home Page - www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/transition
  • Transition Services Professional Development Support Center - www.transitionsource.org 

Other State Activities:

The Office of Special Education at the New York State Education Department, with the assistance of the Transition Services PDSC, continues to provide intensive professional development to our Transition Specialists within the RSE-TASC. Transition Specialists are engaged in development of consistent training packages focusing on key issues related to the transition process. These training packages will be delivered around the State to ensure the consistency and quality of the transition-related professional development provided to school districts throughout New York.