Transition Curriculum: A Continuous Pathway from Grade 9 to Adulthood
Ori Learning’s transition curriculum is a vertically aligned program for grades 9–12 and adult transition (18–22+) that builds employment skills, independent living, self-determination, and postsecondary readiness—while simplifying planning and documentation.
What is a Transition Curriculum?
A transition curriculum is a structured scope and sequence required within special education that prepares students for life after high school—while supporting Indicator 13 alignment and clearly articulated post-secondary goals. It bridges academic instruction and functional adulthood by focusing on post-school outcomes such as competitive integrated employment, postsecondary education or training, and independent living.
A strong transition curriculum include:
- Self-determination and goal setting
- Job exploration and workplace readiness
- Daily living and community access skills
- Social/interpersonal and self-advocacy skills
- Progress monitoring and documentation
Transition Curriculum Framework: 6 Core Domains
Stop retraining students every time they move up a grade. Our solutions are built on the same 6 Core Domains, ensuring consistent vocabulary from ages 14 through adulthood.
1. Self-Determination
From identifying strengths and limitations (HS) to advocating for workplace accommodations and rights (Adult).
2. Education & Training
From developing study habits and post-secondary plans (HS) to accessing community learning centers and vocational training (Adult).
3. Employment Skills
From career interest surveys and resume building (HS) to workplace safety, hygiene, and job retention (Adult).
4. Independent Living
From understanding leases and financial literacy (HS) to cooking meals, doing laundry, and managing a household (Adult).
5. Interpersonal Skills
From navigating peer pressure and digital communication (HS) to handling conflict resolution in professional settings (Adult).
6. Health & Wellness
From stress management and emotional regulation (HS) to independently managing doctor appointments and prescriptions (Adult).
High School Transition Curriculum
(Grades 9-12)
Focus: College & Career Readiness
A standards-aligned curriculum for students focusing on self-discovery, post-secondary planning, and documented service delivery.
- Indicator 13 Support: Automatically generate the evidence of implementation required for audits—including assessment dates, instructional logs, and student artifacts.
- Spiraled Scope & Sequence: Age-appropriate progressions that mature with the student—from Freshman exploration to Senior launch.
- Standards Aligned: Instruction mapped to Common Core ELA and CASEL competencies to ensure academic rigor alongside transition planning.
Adult Transition Curriculum
(18-22+ Programs)
Focus: Functional Independence
A functional curriculum designed to build independence in daily living, employment, and community access.
- WIOA & Pre-ETS Aligned: Targeted instruction for Job Exploration and Workplace Readiness to support funding coordination and validate grant reporting requirements.
- Modular Design: Skill-based units (not grade levels) for flexible adult instruction.
- Real-World Application: Practical focus on independent living, safety, financial literacy, and vocational skills to bridge the gap between school and adulthood.
A Vertically Aligned Scope & Sequence
See how our curriculum matures with your students from Grade 9 through Age 22.
Self-Determination
High School Focus (Grades 9-12): Focuses on recognizing strengths and limiting beliefs , and overcoming obstacles to set long-term goals.
Adult Focus (18-22+): Shifts to active leadership, where students learn to lead their own IEP meetings and advocate for their disability rights in housing and employment.
Independent Living
High School Focus (Grades 9-12): Covers foundational routines like personal care, cooking, and keeping a space organized.
- Adult Focus (18-22+): Advances to functional autonomy, including transportation training (reading schedules/maps) , budgeting for rent and utilities , and emergency preparedness.
Employment Skills
High School Focus (Grades 9-12): Students practice building resumes, filling out applications, and mock interviewing.
Adult Focus (18-22+): Focuses on job retention, including workplace safety, communicating with managers, and understanding work ethic.
Education & Training
High School Focus (Grades 9-12): Students build executive function skills, exploring personal learning styles, study habits, and time management strategies. They learn to navigate accommodations and develop test-taking strategies to support academic success.
Adult Focus (18-22+): The focus shifts to lifelong learning and using technology responsibly. Students explore community training programs and apprenticeships while learning to request and utilize accommodations independently in educational or workplace settings.
Social Skills
High School Focus (Grades 9-12): Instruction focuses on navigating peer pressure, digital citizenship (cyberbullying), and building healthy friendships. Students practice conflict resolution and learn to respect different points of view in a school environment.
Adult Focus (18-22+): Students refine complex social skills needed for adulthood, such as making strong first impressions, understanding personal boundaries, and handling conflict respectfully in professional and community settings.
Health & Wellness
High School Focus (Grades 9-12): Students build self-awareness around mental health, stress management, and hygiene routines. They learn to identify emotions and practice healthy decision-making regarding nutrition and safety.
Adult Focus (18-22+): The curriculum advances to healthcare literacy, where students learn to schedule doctor appointments, understand medications, and create personalized wellness plans that include physical movement and mental health support.
Powered by the Ori Learning Platform
Both solutions are built on the same secure, accessible technology to ensure consistency across your district.
Defensible Data & Documentation
Move beyond simple tracking. Automatically log instructional hours, completion dates, and assessment results to create a defensible data trail for Indicator 13 and district reporting.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
True inclusion requires access. We provide built-in Read Aloud, Symbol Support, and Translation for 130+ languages, ensuring students with mild-to-moderate needs can demonstrate knowledge their way.
Flexible Delivery Models
Adapt to any setting. Switch instantly between Front-of-Class for group instruction, Student-Paced for independent stations, or Live Participation for interactive engagement—giving teachers full control of the room.