MEMORANDUM

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

John L. Winn

Commissioner of Education

DONNA G. CALLAWAY

MEMORANDUM

Contact Information:

Name: Janet Adams

TO:

District School Superintendents

Phone: (850) 245-0478

E-mail: Janet.Adams@fldoe.org

FROM:

Cheri Pierson Yecke, Ph.D.

K12: 2005-144

DATE:

October 19, 2005

SUBJECT:

Appointment of Local Teams to Participate in the 2006 Summit on

Transition for Youth with Disabilities

The Florida Department of Education’s goal for high student achievement is among the top priorities for K-

12 Education. To support this goal, we are pleased to announce the Partners in Transition Summit 2006.

The State of Florida Partners in Transition (PIT) is sponsoring a Summit on Transition for Youth with

Disabilities, April 25-26, 2006, at the Sheraton World Resort, Orlando, Florida. The 2006 Summit, the

second sponsored by PIT, will build on the previous summit during which 26 teams met to increase inter-

agency collaboration. The goal of the 2006 Summit on Transition is to assist local districts with building

cross-agency Leadership Teams focused on improving post-school outcomes for students with disabilities.

This goal will be accomplished through the establishment of Leadership Teams, which will convene at the

summit to develop action plans for their respective communities. Participation in the Summit on Transition

will be limited to individuals selected to serve on the Leadership Teams. Travel scholarships will be

available for all approved team members. A County Leadership Team Application and a preliminary

schedule are attached for your information.

We are requesting that each school superintendent recommend a district team of up to eight members who

represent the following areas:

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) directors or transition specialists (district level)

School administrators or classroom teachers

Family advocates

Community advocates

Youths with a disability

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Department of Children and Families, Children’s Mental Health

CHERI PIERSON YECKE, PH.D.

CHANCELLOR, K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS

325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org

Appointment of Local Teams to Participate in the 2006 Summit on

Transition for Youth with Disabilities

October 19, 2005

Page 2

Many school districts have existing inter-agency councils that are focused on transition issues. These

councils may be able to serve as a resource in helping identify summit team members and current transition

issues. School district transition contact persons are usually involved in these efforts and can identify

existing councils.

Please use the County Leadership Team Application to let us know of your interest and to identify

individuals to comprise your county’s Leadership Team. The summit planning committee may group some

counties together to create Regional Leadership Teams. Over the course of the two-day summit, all teams

will attend workshops and participate in planning sessions. A reply by December 1, 2005, is requested.

We hope that you will accept this invitation to participate in the Summit on Transition. This is a critical step

in strengthening the capacity of local communities to improve post-school outcomes for students with

disabilities.

Thank you for joining us in this important planning activity.

CPY/jam

Attachments

cc: ESE Directors