Students with disabilities; development of transition IEP, access by students, report.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify the consequences if private colleges do not make the guidelines available.

Guidelines for Transition Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for Students with Disabilities

This act requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to develop and post guidelines for creating transition IEPs, which help students with disabilities plan their education after high school.

What This Bill Does

• The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia must work with the Department of Education and representatives from public institutions of higher education and secondary schools to create guidelines for making transition Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
• These guidelines will be made available to IEP teams so that they can use them when planning for students with disabilities who are moving on from high school.
• The Council must encourage private colleges in Virginia to share these guidelines, though it is not required by law.
• By November 1, 2026, the Council must report its findings and recommendations to specific committees, including a copy of the transition IEP guidelines.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students with disabilities who need support when transitioning from high school to college or other post-secondary education.
• Public institutions of higher education in Virginia that will use these guidelines to help students plan their future education.
• The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, which is responsible for creating and sharing the transition IEP guidelines.

Terms To Know

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

A written plan that outlines special education services tailored to a student's needs.

Transition Individualized Education Program (transition IEP)

Part of an IEP that focuses on planning for the future, such as going from high school to college or work.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if private colleges do not share the guidelines.
• It is unclear how these guidelines will be enforced and monitored by public institutions of higher education.

Official Summary Text

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; guidelines for developing a transition IEP; report.
Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (the Council), in consultation with the Department of Education and representatives of public institutions of higher education and public secondary schools in the Commonwealth, to develop and submit to the Department of Education for public posting and access by the individualized education program (IEP) team of any student with a disability guidelines for developing a transition IEP to help facilitate the timely provision of transition services and accommodations for students with disabilities by public institutions of higher education across the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Council to encourage private institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth to make such guidelines available to help facilitate the timely provision of transition services and accommodations for such students at such institutions. The bill requires the Council to submit to the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Education by November 1, 2026, a report on its findings and recommendations that includes a copy of such guidelines.

Current Bill Text

An Act to amend and reenact the second enactment of Chapter 202 of the Acts of Assembly of 2025, relating to State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; guidelines for developing a transition IEP; report.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
2. That the second enactment of Chapter 202 of the Acts of Assembly of 2025 is amended and reenacted as follows:
2. That the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (the Council) shall, in consultation with
the Department of Education and
representatives of public institutions of higher education and public secondary schools in the Commonwealth,
(i) study the quality and consistency of transition individualized education programs (IEPs) developed and implemented for students with disabilities across the Commonwealth that are dedicated to establishing the postsecondary transition services needed by students with disabilities (transition IEPs) or contain sections that are dedicated to establishing the postsecondary transition services needed by students with disabilities (transition sections) and (ii) make recommendations on strategies for improving the standardization of
develop and submit to the Department of Education for public posting and access by the individualized education program (IEP) team of any student with a disability guidelines for developing a
transition
IEPs or transition sections contained in IEPs
IEP
to help facilitate the timely provision of transition services and accommodations for students with disabilities by public institutions of higher education across the Commonwealth.
The Council shall encourage private institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth to make such guidelines available to help facilitate the timely provision of transition services and accommodations for such students at such institutions. Such guidelines shall include relevant information on Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs.
The Council shall submit to the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Education by November 1,
2025
2026
, a report on its findings and recommendations
that includes a copy of such transition IEP guidelines
.