Nebraska Pre-ETS High School — Five Core Services and How to Access Them

Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) are the single most underutilized transition resource in Nebraska, and access starts with one form. Students with IEPs can begin receiving Pre-ETS as early as age 14 — no formal VR eligibility determination required.

Who Qualifies

Eligibility for Pre-ETS in Nebraska is deliberately broad. A student qualifies if they:

• Have a documented disability (IEP or 504 Plan)
• Are between ages 14 and 21
• Are enrolled in a secondary school, postsecondary program, or home school

That's it. Unlike adult VR services, Pre-ETS do not require a formal disability diagnosis, a comprehensive eligibility evaluation, or an Individualized Plan for Employment. Students access Pre-ETS under a "potentially eligible" category — the process is designed to be low-barrier.

The Five Core Services

Nebraska VR delivers Pre-ETS through five core service areas, aligned with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA):

1. Job Exploration Counseling — Students learn about career options, labor market trends, and how their skills and interests connect to real jobs. This includes career assessments, informational interviews, and workplace tours.

2. Work Readiness Training — Practical skills employers expect: showing up on time, following instructions, workplace communication, professional appearance, managing breaks, and handling feedback. This is usually delivered in group settings at the school or an ESU.

3. Work-Based Learning Experiences — Hands-on exposure to actual work environments: job shadows, business tours, short-term internships, and paid or unpaid work experiences. For many students, this is the first time they interact with a real workplace outside the school building.

4. Postsecondary Education Counseling — Guidance on college options, vocational training programs, and how to access disability services at postsecondary institutions. Includes help with applications, financial aid, and accommodation requests.

5. Self-Advocacy Instruction — Teaching students to understand their disability, articulate their needs, request accommodations, and participate meaningfully in their own IEP meetings and employment planning.

How to Get Started

Access begins with the Pre-Employment Transition Services Consent & Release Form. A parent or guardian signs the form, authorizing the student to meet with a Nebraska VR Pre-ETS Coordinator. The school's transition coordinator or special education teacher typically facilitates this connection, but families can also contact their local Nebraska VR office directly.

Once the consent form is signed, it allows the student to meet with a Pre-ETS Coordinator at school — often during the school day — to deliver services from the five core areas. The coordinator also connects with the IEP team to align Pre-ETS activities with the student's transition goals.

Inviting VR to the IEP Meeting

Under Rule 51, a school district needs written parental consent before inviting an outside agency representative — including Nebraska VR — to an IEP meeting. This is a two-step process:

1. The school sends a consent form asking permission to invite VR
2. The parent signs and returns it

Once consent is granted, the VR Pre-ETS Coordinator (or an adult VR counselor, for older students) can attend the IEP meeting, contribute to transition planning, and help align school-based goals with VR services.

Families can also request that VR be invited. If the school hasn't initiated the conversation by the student's 16th birthday, ask the special education teacher to start the consent process.

Pre-ETS vs. Adult VR Services

Pre-ETS is the entry point, not the whole picture. As the student approaches graduation or school exit, they'll need to transition from Pre-ETS to a formal adult application with Nebraska VR. The adult track requires:

• A formal eligibility determination (documenting that the disability creates a substantial barrier to employment)
• An Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) that defines a job goal, timeline, and services
• Active case management until the individual works successfully in competitive integrated employment for at least 90 days

The Pre-ETS relationship makes the adult VR transition smoother — the student already has a VR contact, a record of work experiences, and documented employment interests. Without Pre-ETS, the adult application starts from scratch.

What Families Overlook

Pre-ETS is available starting at 14. Most families don't learn about it until 16 or later. Two extra years of job exploration and work-readiness training compound — a student who starts at 14 enters their junior year with real work experience, not just classroom simulations.

The school can't sign the consent form for you. The consent must come from the parent or guardian. If the school hasn't raised Pre-ETS by the time the student is 15, ask directly.

Pre-ETS doesn't count against adult VR services. Receiving Pre-ETS as a student doesn't reduce or limit the services available through adult VR later. They're separate tracks with separate funding.

The Nebraska IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide includes Pre-ETS alignment worksheets, a school-VR cooperation tracking log, and a step-by-step walkthrough for transitioning from Pre-ETS to an adult VR application.

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