Transition Age Rights in Wisconsin
What are the transition age rights for IEP students in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin requires transition planning to begin at age 14, two years earlier than the federal IDEA minimum of age 16, under Wis. Stat. § 115.787(2)(g) and Wis. Admin. Code PI 11.09(2)(d). The IEP in effect when the child turns 14 must include: (1) appropriate, measurable postsecondary goals based on age-appropriate transition assessments for training, education, employment, and (where appropriate) independent living skills; and (2) the transition services, including a course of study, needed to reach those goals. Beginning one year before age 18 (typically in the age-17 IEP), the IEP must annually document that the student has been informed of the rights that will transfer at majority. FAPE eligibility continues until the student graduates with a regular high school diploma or is no longer of compulsory age — defined in Wisconsin as under age 21 and not yet graduated with a regular diploma (Wis. Stat. § 115.76(5)(a)). Wisconsin provides transition readiness grants to incentivize successful outcomes (Wis. Stat. §§ 115.884, 115.885). Wisconsin DPI guidance materials sometimes use the term 'Individualized Transition Plan (ITP)' informally, though the legal document is the IEP.
What Wisconsin Requires
Transition planning must begin at age 14 in Wisconsin — two years earlier than the federal minimum of 16 (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(2)(g); Wis. Admin. Code PI 11.09(2)(d)).
At age 14, the IEP must include measurable postsecondary goals for training, education, employment, and (where appropriate) independent living, based on age-appropriate transition assessments (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(2)(g)(1)).
Transition services, including a course of study, must be described in the IEP to support attainment of postsecondary goals (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(2)(g)(2)).
Beginning one year before age 18 (age-17 IEP): the IEP must annually document that the student has been informed of rights transferring at majority age (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(2)(g)(3)).
Representatives of transition agencies (e.g., DVR, DHS) with potential transition service responsibilities must be invited to IEP meetings when transition services are being discussed (34 CFR 300.321(b)).
Transition readiness grants under Wis. Stat. §§ 115.884 and 115.885 incentivize districts when students successfully transition to higher education, postsecondary training, or competitive employment within one year of exit.
Key Timelines
Age 14: transition planning with measurable postsecondary goals and transition services begins (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(2)(g); PI 11.09(2)(d)) — two years earlier than the federal age-16 minimum.
Age 17 (one year before 18): rights-transfer notification required in IEP annually (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(2)(g)(3)).
Age 18: educational rights transfer to the student unless a guardian is appointed (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(2)(g)(3); 34 CFR 300.520).
Age 21: FAPE eligibility ends for students who have not graduated with a regular diploma (Wis. Stat. § 115.76(5)(a)).