About Indicator 13

What Is Indicator 13?

Indicator 13 is one of 17 Indicators (performance measures) that the federal government uses to monitor state performance relative to Federal Special Education laws. Indicator data is reported annually to the federal government in the Annual Performance Report (APR) as part of the IDEA – Part B Special Education State Performance Plan (SPP).

Indicator 13 relates to transition services for students.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was reauthorized on December 3, 2004, and its provisions became effective on July 1, 2005.

What does compliance with Indicator 13 mean?

The State of New Hampshire reports statewide compliance with transition elements of Federal special education law by reporting district-level compliance with:

The percent of youth with IEPs aged 16 and above with an IEP that includes appropriate measurable postsecondary goals that are annually updated and based upon an age-appropriate transition assessment, transition services, including courses of study, that will reasonably enable the student to meet those postsecondary goals, and annual IEP goals related to the student’s transition services needs.

There also must be evidence that the student was invited to the IEP Team meeting where transition services are to be discussed and evidence that, if appropriate, a representative of any participating agency that is likely to be responsible for providing or paying for transition services, including, if appropriate, pre-employment transition services, was invited to the IEP Team meeting with the prior consent of the parent or student who has reached the age of majority.

Data collection

New Hampshire collects Indicator 13 data using a checklist based on a tool created by the National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC). New Hampshire Indicator 13 Compliance Checklist (2019)

Indicator 13 includes seven factors

The IEP that is in place when a student turns 16 is required to meet Indicator 13 requirements. This means being in compliance with all seven items on the Indicator 13 Checklist:

1. Is there an appropriate measurable postsecondary goal (MPSG) or goals that covers education or training, education, employment, and, as needed, independent living?
2. Is there evidence that the measurable postsecondary goals are annually updated and based upon an age-appropriate transition assessment?
3. Are there transition services in the IEP that will reasonably enable the student to meet his or her postsecondary goal(s)?
4. Do transition services include a course of study that will reasonably enable the student to meet his or her measurable postsecondary goal(s)?
5. Is there at least one annual goal related to the student’s transition service needs?
6. Is there evidence that the student was invited to his or her IEP Team meeting where one of the purposes was considering the postsecondary goals and transition services needed to assist in reaching those goals?
7. If appropriate, is the evidence that a representative of any participating agency was invited to the IEP Team meeting with the prior consent of the parent or student who has reached the age of majority?

New Hampshire’s added requirement for age 14

The New Hampshire Standard for the Education of Children with Disabilities adds a requirement to transition planning: An IEP that is in place in the year a student turns 14 must include a course of study. This is a state requirement, not a federal one, and so is not included in Indicator 13 compliance monitoring of school districts.