FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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Jeanine Blomberg
Commissioner of Education
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Contact Information:
MEMORANDUM
Name: Sandy Stevens, Conference Planner
Phone:
(850) 656-8848
TO:
District School Superintendents
E-mail:
sandy.stevens@mgmtresources.org
FROM:
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Commissioner Jeanine Blomberg
DATE:
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October 8, 2007
SUBJECT:
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Appointment of Local Leadership Teams to Participate in the 2007 Summit on
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Transition for Youth with Disabilities
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The Florida Department of Education’s goal for high student achievement is among the top priorities
for K-12 Education. To support this goal, I am pleased to announce the Partners in Transition Summit
2007.
The state of Florida Partners in Transition (PIT) is sponsoring a Summit on Transition for Youth with
Disabilities October 30 – November 1, 2007, at the Peabody Hotel, Orlando, Florida. The 2007 Summit
the third sponsored by PIT, will build on the previous summit during which 26 teams met to increase
interagency collaboration. The goal of the 2007 Summit on Transition is to assist local districts with
building cross-agency Local Leadership Teams focused on improving post-school outcomes for students
with disabilities. This goal will be accomplished through the establishment of Local 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.
Funded primarily through the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC), travel scholarships
will be available for all approved team members. There are funds available through the FDDC for at
least twenty-five (25) teams of between eight (8) and eleven (11) individuals. Along with funding from
the Department of Education, additional in-kind support comes from the Able Trust, the Department of
Health, the Department of Children and Families, the University of South Florida, and the Advocacy
Center for Persons with Disabilities, among others. A County Leadership Team Application and a
preliminary schedule are attached for your information.
325 W. GAINES STREET • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
Appointment of Local Teams to Participate in the 2007 Summit on
Transition for Youth with Disabilities
October 9, 2007
Page Two
We are requesting that each district Superintendent support a district team of up to eight members who
represent the following areas:
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Exceptional Student Education (ESE) directors or transition specialists (district level)
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School administrators or classroom teachers
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Family advocates
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Community advocates
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Youth with disabilities
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Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
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Agency for Persons with Disabilities
*
Department of Children and Families, Children’s Mental Health
Many school districts have existing interagency councils that are focused on transition issues, such as
Project Connect. These councils may be able to serve as a resource to help identify summit team
members and current transition issues.
Please use the County Leadership Team Application to let us know of your interest and to identify
individuals to comprise your county’s Local 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. Districts should reply
as
soon as possible
.
This Summit is a critical step in strengthening the capacity of local communities to improve post-school
outcomes for students with disabilities. Thank you for taking part in this important planning activity.
JB/apw
Attachments
c:
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District ESE Director
District Transition Specialist
