Hawaii Special Education Transition Checklist: Ages 14 Through 22

Hawaii starts transition planning earlier than most states. Under HAR Chapter 60, your child's IEP team must address transition service needs during the school year they turn 14 — two full years before the federal IDEA baseline of 16. That earlier start sounds like a gift, but only if families actually use it. Without a structured checklist, those extra years disappear into vague IEP language and missed agency deadlines.

Here is a year-by-year breakdown of what needs to happen, who is responsible, and what documents you should have in hand at each stage.

Age 14: Course of Study and First Transition Conversation

The IEP team is required to discuss "transition service needs" during the year your child turns 14 under HAR §8-60-44(b)(1). The primary focus at this stage is identifying a course of study — the specific classes and electives that align with your teen's postsecondary interests.

The most consequential decision this year is the graduation pathway. Hawaii offers a standard high school diploma (24 credits) and a Certificate of Completion. If the IEP team introduces curriculum modifications rather than accommodations, your child may be routed toward the certificate track. Ask the team directly whether each support alters the grading standard.

Checklist items for age 14:

• Confirm the IEP includes a transition service needs section
• Request career interest inventories and initial transition assessments
• Clarify whether supports are accommodations or modifications
• Document the selected graduation pathway in writing
• Ensure the student attends and participates in the IEP meeting

Age 15–16: Pre-ETS and Measurable Postsecondary Goals

At 15, request a Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) referral to the Hawaii Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). Pre-ETS is available to students aged 14 through 21 and does not require a formal VR application. Your child can access job exploration counseling, work-based learning, postsecondary counseling, workplace readiness training, and self-advocacy instruction through school-DVR partnerships.

By the IEP in effect when the student turns 16, the plan must include measurable postsecondary goals in education or training, employment, and (where appropriate) independent living. These goals must be based on age-appropriate transition assessments — not recycled from the previous year's IEP. Hawaii's compliance rate on Indicator 13, the federal standard for transition planning quality, has been consistently low. That means the school may not generate strong transition goals on their own.

Checklist items for ages 15–16:

• Submit a Pre-ETS referral through the HIDOE transition teacher to DVR
• Request formal transition assessments before the annual IEP meeting
• Verify that postsecondary goals are measurable and assessment-based
• Ask the team to invite DVR and DOH-DDD representatives to the IEP meeting
• Secure written parental consent for interagency participation

Age 17: Transfer of Rights Notice and Legal Planning

By the IEP meeting at least one year before your child turns 18, the team must provide formal written notice that educational decision-making rights will transfer from you to the student at age 18. This is not optional — HAR §8-60-44(c) requires this notification.

If your child has a significant cognitive disability and will need decision-making support as an adult, this is the year to begin evaluating legal alternatives. Hawaii offers two low-cost options that avoid full court-ordered guardianship: a Power of Attorney for Special Education (the student signs voluntarily) and an Educational Representative appointment (requires certification by a primary physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist that the student lacks capacity for educational decisions). Full guardianship requires a probate court petition with court approval and a comprehensive medical assessment — begin well before the eighteenth birthday if that route is necessary.

Checklist items for age 17:

• Confirm the IEP includes a written transfer-of-rights notice
• Begin evaluating decision-making framework options
• If guardianship is needed, consult an attorney and schedule medical evaluations
• Continue coordinating Pre-ETS activities and work experiences

Age 18–21: Adult System Entry and Continued Transition

When your child turns 18, all educational rights transfer to them. The school addresses notices and IEP decisions to the student, not to you, unless a legal alternative is filed. Submit the appropriate decision-making documents to the school immediately.

This is also when adult benefit systems open up. Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through the Social Security Administration — at 18, eligibility is based on the student's own income and assets, not the parent's household income. SSI eligibility simplifies enrollment in Hawaii's Med-QUEST Medicaid program, which funds services under the DOH-DDD I/DD Waiver.

If your child is pursuing a Certificate of Completion, they remain eligible for FAPE and school-based transition services until their 22nd birthday. Use this extended window for DVR work-study placements, community-based instruction, and adult service applications.

Checklist items for ages 18–21:

• File decision-making documents (POA, Educational Representative, or guardianship) with the school
• Apply for SSI at the local Social Security office
• Enroll in Med-QUEST Medicaid
• Apply for the DOH-DDD I/DD Waiver if appropriate
• Open a Hawaii ABLE savings account if the disability began before age 46 (up to $20,000/year without affecting SSI or Med-QUEST eligibility)
• Continue DVR coordination and work-based learning
• Connect with college disability services offices if pursuing higher education

Age 22: Exit Planning and Summary of Performance

FAPE ends on your child's 22nd birthday. Before exit, the school must provide a Summary of Performance (SOP) that documents academic achievement, functional performance, and recommendations for meeting postsecondary goals. The SOP serves as primary disability documentation for college accommodations and employment settings.

Ensure the SOP includes current evaluations and actionable recommendations — not a boilerplate summary. Confirm that adult service handoffs (DVR case, DDD case manager, day program enrollment) are fully authorized before the school door closes.

Final checklist items:

• Request the Summary of Performance before the exit date
• Verify that adult service funding is authorized and providers are selected
• Confirm the handoff to the DOH-DDD case manager is complete
• Keep copies of all IEP records, evaluations, and the SOP in a permanent file

Keeping the Checklist Current

Transition planning is not a one-time event. Every annual IEP review should revisit the student's postsecondary goals, update assessments, and document agency coordination. Hawaii's single-district structure means the same rules apply whether you are on Oahu, Maui, or the Big Island — but service availability varies by island, so build provider research into your annual review cycle.

The Hawaii IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide walks through each stage with decision worksheets, agency contact details, and document trackers designed for the HIDOE-DVR-DDD coordination sequence.

See more Hawaii guides →