Federal education officials are asking for ideas as they work to strengthen transition services for students with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services is asking for feedback from parents, states, school districts, vocational rehabilitation providers and other stakeholders on how the agency can best use technical assistance to guide states on improving “postsecondary transition services to all students and youth with disabilities.”

In addition, the agency wants input on how its Parent Training and Information Centers — a network of centers in each state that help parents navigate special education — can better coordinate with other relevant technical assistance centers.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The move comes as the Education Department plans to issue a new grant for the National Technical Assistance Center on Improving Transition to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students with Disabilities.

The center was first established in 2014 in order to offer states, schools and vocational rehabilitation providers evidence-based strategies to help those with disabilities leave high school prepared to succeed.

“We want to hear directly from you what has worked well, what could be improved and what changes should be considered as we recompete this grant,” reads a notice from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

In particular, the Education Department wants to know what challenges stakeholders are facing in serving those with disabilities ages 14 to 24 and what sorts of tools and resources are useful, among other issues.

The agency is accepting feedback through Oct. 2.

Read more stories like this one. Sign up for Disability Scoop's free email newsletter to get the latest developmental disability news sent straight to your inbox.