PACE Program Clark County Special Education Transition

Clark County School District operates two transition programs for students with disabilities who remain eligible for special education services after their 18th birthday: PACE (Preparing for Adult Community Experiences) and POST (Preparing Our Students for Transition). These programs are public education services — free, provided by the school district, and governed by IEP goals — that continue through age 22 for eligible students. A student who earns a standard diploma may still participate if the diploma is temporarily reclassified as "adjusted" under Nevada's transition-program policy.

Who Qualifies

Any CCSD student with an active IEP who has not earned a standard diploma is eligible to remain in special education services through age 22. This includes students who received an adjusted diploma or an alternative diploma, because neither of those exit categories terminates IDEA eligibility.

Nevada has an unusual diploma reclassification policy: if a student earns a standard diploma but then enrolls in a district transition program like PACE or POST, their diploma is temporarily reclassified as "adjusted" for the duration of the program. When they complete the transition program, the diploma reverts to standard. This preserves eligibility for transition services while the student participates, so families don't have to choose between a diploma and continued services.

What PACE and POST Provide

Both programs focus on adult living skills, vocational preparation, and community participation. The specific services depend on the student's IEP goals, but commonly include:

• Community-based instruction — practicing skills like grocery shopping, public transit navigation, banking, and appointment scheduling in real settings, not a classroom
• Job skills training — workplace readiness, job sampling, and supported employment placements with local employers
• Independent living skills — cooking, hygiene, money management, and self-advocacy
• Social skills development — building relationships, conflict resolution, and recreational participation

PACE serves students with more significant support needs, typically those who were in self-contained or life skills classrooms during high school. POST serves students with moderate support needs who are closer to competitive employment.

Both programs coordinate with the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation for Pre-Employment Transition Services. Your child can receive Pre-ETS through BVR while simultaneously enrolled in PACE or POST — the services are complementary, not duplicative.

The Transition to Adult Services

PACE and POST end when your child turns 22 or completes the program. There is no adult equivalent — school district services simply stop. This makes the transition out of PACE/POST one of the most critical planning windows for Nevada families.

Before your child ages out, you should already have:

• ADSD regional center intake completed — Desert Regional Center serves all PACE/POST families in Clark County. Starting the intake process at least a year before aging out gives time for the eligibility determination and waiver waitlist placement.
• Adult BVR case opened — if your child was receiving Pre-ETS through BVR, transitioning to a full adult VR case with an Individualized Plan for Employment should happen before school services end
• Medicaid confirmed — remember that Nevada requires a separate Medicaid application even if your child receives SSI
• Decision-making authority established — SDM agreement, power of attorney, or representative payee arrangements should all be in place before the school district stops advocating on your child's behalf

Washoe County and Rural Alternatives

Washoe County School District offers similar transition services, though the program names and structures differ from CCSD's PACE/POST. Contact your child's IEP case manager for the specific program serving Washoe County students aged 18–22.

Rural school districts have more limited capacity. Some contract with community organizations to provide transition services, while others rely primarily on BVR Pre-ETS to fill the gap. If your child is in a rural district with minimal transition programming, contact Rural Regional Center early — starting the ADSD intake at age 16 or 17 gives more time to build a service plan before school exits.

Our Nevada SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide includes a school-to-adult-services transition timeline that maps PACE/POST exit against the application deadlines for SSI, Medicaid, ADSD, and BVR, so nothing falls through the gap.

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