New statewide data shows that only 19% of Washington students who exited school with an Individualized Education Program in 2024 connected with an adult service agency afterward.
Among those who enrolled in college, just 3% connected with their school's disability support office.
The figures, published July 21, come from the Center for Change in Transition Services at Seattle University, which serves as Washington's OSPI-funded technical assistance center for secondary transition planning.
No district-level breakdown for Everett is publicly available, but the statewide rates suggest a significant gap for local families: Everett Public Schools serves more than 2,900 students with IEPs, ranging in age from 3 to 22, according to the district's Special Services page.
What happens after graduation
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, an IEP is valid only within the K-12 system. For students who graduate, accommodations end at commencement.
Any post-school support must be applied for separately through agencies like the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation or the Developmental Disabilities Administration, and those services are not guaranteed.
Graduation itself does not depend on completing a transition plan.
Students can walk the stage even if their IEP transition goals remain in progress, leaving some without the agency connections or skills their team identified as necessary.
Jay Shepherd, CCTS assistant director, told the Seattle Times that the final step of coordinating with adult agencies "can sometimes be forgotten" during IEP planning. "Creating a strong bond between the student and adult agencies will help make sure that they have support in place when they leave school," Shepherd said.
What Everett Public Schools offers
Everett Public Schools begins transition services at age 16, the minimum required under federal and state law. Planning continues until a student graduates, exits special education, or turns 22.
The district operates two post-high-school programs for students ages 18 to 22: GOAL and STRIVE. GOAL runs three community-embedded classrooms at Sequoia High School, the Everett Senior Center through Volunteers of America, and Providence Hospital's Project Search site.
Both programs bridge high school and adult life for students who have completed most graduation requirements but still need supported work experience and independent-living skills.
No Everett Public Schools staff were available to comment on whether the district is considering earlier transition planning or how local outcomes compare to the statewide rate.
Advocates push for earlier start
Washington law sets 16 as the latest age for transition planning to begin. Several states mandate an earlier start: Florida, Massachusetts, and Texas all require transition services before 16.
Jennifer Strehle, coordinator of the Bellevue School District's Evergreen Transition Program, told the Seattle Times on July 21: "I wish that the transition planning legally started at age 12 or 14."
Strehle argued that an earlier mandate would compel schools to begin career exploration sooner, giving students a better chance of completing every step before graduation.
New state laws
Washington passed SSB 5253 in 2025, extending special education eligibility through the end of the school year in which a student turns 22.
That law took effect for the 2025-26 school year. A separate bill, ESHB 2557, effective June 11, 2026, now requires parents to receive their child's evaluation report before the IEP or eligibility meeting.
How families can act before the 2026-27 school year
Families who want to engage with Everett Public Schools transition services can contact the Special Services Department at [email protected] or 425-385-5250. OSPI lists key adult agencies including DVR, DDA, The Arc of Washington State, and PAVE.
CCTS offers a free online transition portfolio tool called T-Folio, available at seattleu.edu/ccts/resources, aligned with IEP planning and DVR pre-employment categories.
