Date of Award
5-2026
Culminating Project Type
Starred Paper
Styleguide
apa
Degree Name
Special Education: M.S.
Department
Special Education
College
School of Education
First Advisor
Brian Valentini
Second Advisor
Bradley Kaffar
Third Advisor
Amy Christensen
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
: special education transition planning, IDEA transition services, family engagement in special education, parent participation in transition planning, special education aging out, transition collaboration, and transition teachers and families
Abstract
Families play a central role in transition planning, yet many are not given the tools needed to make informed decisions. Transition teachers can support families in this process, but the information must be presented in formats that are accessible, understandable, and easy to implement. Understanding the methods that transition teachers use to collaborate with families is essential for ensuring systematic implementation of transition plans for students with special needs. Information gathered from empirical studies highlights the importance of age-appropriate information gathering and sharing throughout the transition years during IEP reviews. This study examines the research question: What methods do transition teachers use to collaborate with families on transition plans? A systematic review of 19 peer‑reviewed articles was conducted. Findings indicate that effective collaboration methods include ongoing systematic review, systems navigation support, and structured interagency collaboration. The results reinforce theoretical perspectives that conceptualize transition planning as a relational, developmental, multi‑year process in which transition teachers serve as central coordinators. The central theme across studies is the importance of consistent, developmentally sequenced programming delivered annually from ages 16 to 22 to support meaningful family engagement in transition planning.
Recommended Citation
Wagner, Laura H., "Exploring Collaboration Methods Between Transition Teachers and Families" (2026). Culminating Projects in Special Education. 251.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/sped_etds/251
