Montana Transition Planning Parent Checklist

Why a Parent-Driven Checklist Is Different From the School's

Montana school districts are legally required to conduct transition planning. They have their own forms, timelines, and processes. But the school's checklist covers only what the school is responsible for — which is the educational piece. Nobody at the school is tracking whether you've applied for DDP eligibility, filed the SSI adult application, or executed a supported decision-making agreement.

That's where a parent-driven checklist fills the gap. It covers the full scope of transition — across the school system, VRBS, DDP, SSA, and the courts — organized by age-based deadlines that match Montana's specific requirements.

Here's the sequence most families need, broken down by the student's age.

Age 14: Foundation Year

• [ ] Confirm the IEP includes a transition section with an initial Course of Study
• [ ] Request age-appropriate transition assessments (formal and informal)
• [ ] Verify the student's interests and preferences are documented — not just the team's assumptions
• [ ] Introduce the student to the concept of self-advocacy. Start with IEP meeting participation: the student should attend and have a speaking role
• [ ] Begin collecting copies of all IEP documents, evaluations, and progress reports in a personal file. Don't rely on the school's records alone

Montana is one of the few states that begins transition planning at 14 rather than the federal default of 16. If the district tells you transition doesn't start until 16, they're applying the federal floor, not the Montana standard.

Age 15: Goal Refinement

• [ ] Review and update transition assessments — are they still accurate?
• [ ] Ensure postsecondary goals in education/training and employment are written into the IEP
• [ ] Evaluate whether independent living goals should be added (they're required "where appropriate")
• [ ] Introduce the student to Montana Youth Transitions (MYTransitions) resources at montanayouthtransitions.org
• [ ] Begin researching adult service options so you understand the landscape before deadlines hit

Age 16: Agency Connections

This is the year the transition plan should move from internal school planning to external agency engagement.

• [ ] Request the consent-to-invite form from the school and sign it so VRBS can attend IEP meetings
• [ ] Submit the VRBS Student Request Form for Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)
• [ ] Contact your regional DDP office and request the DDP eligibility packet
• [ ] Compile diagnostic documentation for DDP — IEP evaluations, psychological assessments, developmental histories
• [ ] Submit the DDP eligibility application. Get on the 0208 Waiver waitlist as early as possible
• [ ] Once DDP eligibility is established, activate Targeted Case Management (TCM) services — no waitlist
• [ ] Ensure the IEP includes community-based work experiences, not just classroom-based vocational instruction

Age 17: Legal Threshold Preparation

The transfer of rights at 18 is approaching. This year is about getting legal frameworks in place.

• [ ] Confirm the school has sent the required written notification that educational rights will transfer to the student at 18
• [ ] Evaluate decision-support options: Supported Decision-Making (SDM), Durable Power of Attorney, or guardianship
• [ ] If pursuing SDM: draft the SDM agreement with the student and trusted supporters. Montana recognized SDM via Senate Bill 31 (2021), and courts must consider it before granting guardianship under MCA §§ 72-5-305 and 72-5-316
• [ ] If pursuing Power of Attorney: have the student execute a Durable Financial POA and/or Healthcare POA while they still possess capacity. Must be signed, in writing, and notarized under MCA § 72-31-305
• [ ] If guardianship is necessary: consult an attorney and begin the petition process through the local state district court. This requires clear evidence of incapacity and typically takes months
• [ ] Prepare a FERPA release alongside whatever decision-support framework you choose — this grants supporters or agents the legal right to access and discuss the student's educational records

Age 18: Legal Adulthood

• [ ] Complete the transfer of educational rights. The student now signs the IEP and receives all school correspondence directly
• [ ] File the adult SSI application with the Social Security Administration. At 18, SSA evaluates the student as a household of one — parental income and assets no longer count
• [ ] Register for Selective Service at 18, as applicable
• [ ] Open a Montana ABLE account at savewithable.com/mt — the $100,000 balance exemption protects SSI eligibility
• [ ] Verify the SDM agreement, POA, or guardianship is in place and operational
• [ ] Ensure the school is sending notices and documents to both the adult student and the parents (required even after the transfer of rights)

Ages 19–21: Extended Transition Programming

Under the 2025 federal court ruling, students on the alternate credential track can remain enrolled through their 22nd birthday. This window is where the heaviest transition work happens.

• [ ] Confirm the school is providing substantive transition programming — vocational training, community-based instruction, independent living skills, work-based learning placements
• [ ] Monitor the SSI application process. Prepare for the adult redetermination, where SSA re-evaluates the student's disability under the stricter adult standard
• [ ] If DAC (Disabled Adult Child) benefits may apply: verify that calculations reflect the full repeal of WEP and GPO under the Social Security Fairness Act (signed January 5, 2025)
• [ ] Continue monitoring the 0208 Waiver waitlist position through your TCM case manager
• [ ] Coordinate with VRBS on the transition from Pre-ETS to standard vocational rehabilitation services
• [ ] Update the SDM agreement, POA, or guardianship terms if the student's needs or circumstances have changed

Age 22: Exit and Handoff

• [ ] Confirm the school provides a Summary of Performance (SOP) before the exit date — this is federally required
• [ ] Audit the SOP for completeness: academic achievement, functional performance, and specific postsecondary recommendations
• [ ] Verify the VRBS-to-DDP handoff for employment services is coordinated — no gap between school-funded and waiver-funded supports
• [ ] Confirm ongoing Medicaid coverage and SSI eligibility
• [ ] Secure housing arrangements if the student is transitioning out of the family home
• [ ] Archive all school records, IEP documents, evaluations, and transition assessments in the family's personal file

The Montana IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide expands this checklist into a complete planning workbook with printable tracking sheets, sample letter templates, and step-by-step instructions for every form and application referenced above.

See more Montana guides →