Age Appropriate Transition Assessment (AATA)
Indicator -13 Requirement: Isthere evidence that the measurable postsecondary goals were based on age-appropriate transition assessments
Essential Elements
  • AATA is defined as an “…ongoing process of collecting data on the individual’s needs, preferences, and interests as they relate to the demands of current and future working, educational, living, and personal and social environments. “
  • Measurable postsecondary transition goals are based upon age appropriate transition assessments information.
  • Assessments are required to be conducted for any child turning 16 during the life of the IEP and every year thereafter. Assessment are to be conducted in each of the three goal areas (education, employment, independent living) every year.
  • Determine if the transition assessments were age appropriate (based on student’s chronological age and not their mental abilities) and were usedto helpthe IEP team (student, teachers, evaluators, support staff, etc.) in developing the student’s measurable postsecondary transition goals.
  • For each measurable postsecondary goal there should be evidence thatat least one age appropriate transition assessment was given which provided information on the student’s needs, taking into account their strengths, preferences and interests.
  • The ETR and state/district-wide assessments are two good sources to provide information on the student that should be included in the IEP. Depending on the type of information, it may appear in different sections of the IEP such as: the Future Planning, section 1; the Profile, section 3; the Age Appropriate Transition Assessments, section 4; or in the Present Level of Performance, section 6.
  • Transition assessments are to be given on both academic and functional achievements of the student.
When you have completed transition assessments, the IEP in section 4, “Age Appropriate Transition Assessments,” asks for a summary of their results along with indicating the source of the assessment(s) .” A summary is a broad statement of what information was obtained by the assessment and not specific data (i.e. scores) or individual responses to items. A summary is a global view of what the assessment indicated. The source of assessment requirement is asking you to report what method(s) was used to do the assessment. Indicate if it was from the ETR, testing, observations, previous IEP information, conversation with the child or parents, paper and pencil responses to a survey along with the title, computer assessment instrument and the title, etc. Again, report any title of an assessment used to gain information on the student along with the person who administered the assessment. Also, the date or general time frame an assessment was given is to be reported to verify how recent the information was obtained. Always keep written documentation of transition assessments given to verify they were given and the information reported in the IEP is supported by them.
Below are some examples of how the information may then be introduced in the IEP in the “Age Appropriate Transition Assessments,” section 4.
“Results of an interview conducted by the intervention teacher, Mrs. Jones,indicated that John had a strong interest in working with computers. This conversation was held during the third grading period of this school year.”
“The paper and pencilTransition Planning Inventoryshowed that Carol is in need of transition supports in the following areas: …..inorder to plan for her postsecondary goal. The guidance counselor, Mr. Crabtree, administered the assessment in December of 2010.”
“The paper and pencil Career Matchmaker showed a number of career choices compatible with Todd’s stated interests.” Those with the strongest compatibility were ….. Mrs. Hatton, the intervention teacher, gave it to her in May of 2010.”
“A Functional Vocational Assessment given the first grading period of this year by computer indicated areas of employment that Scott could access with appropriate accommodations. The careers of most interest to him, after discussing them with Mr. Thomas, his intervention teacher, were ….
There are numerous computer sites to visit to read more information on conducting age appropriate transition assessments. Perhaps the best site is:
National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC)Transition Assessment Guidepdf.