Nebraska Transition IEP Checklist — Every Step from Age 14 to Exit

Transition planning in Nebraska spans at least seven years — from the first transition IEP at age 14 through school exit at up to age 21. Missing one step can cascade: a late VR referral delays job coaching, an unsigned FERPA release locks parents out of records, a premature diploma acceptance ends services. A chronological checklist keeps the entire sequence visible.

By Age 14: The First Transition IEP

• [ ] Confirm the school has scheduled the transition IEP to be in effect by the student's 14th birthday (Nebraska Rule 51 requires this — two years earlier than federal IDEA)
• [ ] Complete initial transition assessments covering vocational interests, academic strengths, and independent living needs
• [ ] Write measurable postsecondary goals (PSGs) in education/training, employment, and, where appropriate, independent living
• [ ] Draft a multi-year course of study aligned with the postsecondary goals
• [ ] Ensure the student is invited to participate in the IEP meeting
• [ ] Discuss early Pre-ETS awareness with the IEP team (formal referral can start now — students are eligible from age 14)

By Age 15: Building Self-Advocacy

• [ ] Increase the student's active role in IEP meetings (self-reporting on progress, stating preferences)
• [ ] Teach self-advocacy strategies — how to request accommodations, communicate needs, understand rights
• [ ] Explore assistive technology through the Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership
• [ ] Obtain a state ID and begin gathering identity documents (birth certificate, Social Security card)
• [ ] Update transition assessments and revise PSGs based on new data

By Age 16: Activating VR and Pre-ETS

• [ ] Sign the Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Consent & Release Form to connect the student with Nebraska VR
• [ ] Confirm the transition plan is fully active in the current annual IEP
• [ ] Evaluate whether a benefits analysis is needed (relevant if the student is working and receiving SSI or Medicaid)
• [ ] Begin work-based learning experiences: job shadows, business tours, internships
• [ ] Review the five Pre-ETS core services (job exploration, work readiness, work-based learning, postsecondary counseling, self-advocacy) and determine which the student will access

By Age 17: Graduation Pathway Decision

• [ ] Discuss the graduation pathway with the IEP team: regular diploma (which ends FAPE) vs. Certificate of Attendance (which preserves services through age 21)
• [ ] If choosing the Certificate of Attendance route, understand how 18-21 programming will be delivered
• [ ] Draft a professional resume
• [ ] Register to vote
• [ ] Tour postsecondary options: community colleges, vocational training programs, adult day providers
• [ ] Take college entrance exams with approved IEP accommodations if the postsecondary goal includes higher education

By Age 18: Federal Benefits and Records

• [ ] Apply for SSI if the student may qualify — parental income deeming ends at 18, so many students become eligible for the first time
• [ ] Have the student sign a FERPA Release Form so parents can continue accessing educational records (FERPA rights transfer to the student at 18)
• [ ] Register male students with Selective Service
• [ ] Begin the DHHS developmental disability eligibility re-verification process (this is mandatory at age 18)
• [ ] Provide one-year advance notice to the family about the upcoming age of majority at 19

By Age 19: Age of Majority and Decision-Making

• [ ] Understand that Nebraska's age of majority is 19 — but IDEA parental rights do NOT transfer to the student under Rule 51 (parents remain the IEP decision-makers)
• [ ] If the student needs decision-making support, evaluate options: healthcare power of attorney, financial power of attorney, representative payee, or limited guardianship
• [ ] Execute any needed legal documents (POA forms must be signed by a competent student)
• [ ] Request a DHHS Service Coordinator and invite them to the IEP meeting
• [ ] Open a Nebraska Enable Savings Plan account if not already done

Senior Year / School Exit

• [ ] Complete all remaining academic requirements and IEP transition goals
• [ ] Secure the Summary of Performance (SOP) from the school — this document carries the student's accommodation history and clinical recommendations into postsecondary settings
• [ ] Transition from Pre-ETS to a formal adult application with Nebraska VR
• [ ] Confirm that adult services (DHHS waivers, VR adult plan) are funded and scheduled to start when school services end
• [ ] Coordinate with the DHHS Service Coordinator to ensure the Individualized Service Plan (ISP) is approved

The Overlooked Details

Two items trip up the most organized families:

The SOP is your leverage. Colleges and employers are not bound by the IEP, but the Summary of Performance provides documentation that supports accommodation requests under Section 504 and the ADA. Get it before the last day — confirm with the school when it will prepare and provide the SOP as part of the exit process.

Start adult agency applications early. Even though Nebraska eliminated the DD waiver waitlist in June 2025, eligibility determination and provider matching take time. Families should begin DHHS applications at least two years before school exit to avoid a gap.

The Nebraska IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide includes printable versions of this checklist plus a companion timeline tracker, IEP meeting prep worksheet, and agency communication log designed for Nebraska's specific rules and timelines.

See more Nebraska guides →