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Youth in Transition Toolkit:

Youth in Transition Toolkit

  1. Minnesota’s Youth in Transition Framework
  2. Educate yourself
  3. Engage families
  4. Support youth
    1. My best life
    2. In(ter)dependent living
    3. Employment
    4. Postsecondary education and training
4

Postsecondary education and training

Overview and key curriculum

Youth may choose to continue their postsecondary education and training after high school for various reasons.

For many, the ultimate goal is to achieve a fulfilling career — though education beyond high school provides many other benefits as well. Education gives young people an opportunity to experience greater independence, meet new people, explore interests, and learn about themselves and the world around them. Preparation for postsecondary education and training will help youth have a better understanding of what lies ahead.

  • Awareness: Understand postsecondary education and training concepts.
  • Exploration: Identify personal strengths, preferences, interests and needs related to postsecondary education and training.
  • Preparation: Practice skills, make decisions and get ready to enter into postsecondary education or training.
  • Implementation: Apply skills as independently as possible in postsecondary education or training settings.

Postsecondary education counseling

Hear what young people have to say about postsecondary education and training

Watch this 4 minute video and learn how these young people found success in postsecondary education or training, opening new doors and supporting their ultimate goals after high school.

Postsecondary Education and Training

 

KEY CURRICULUM: Postsecondary Education and Training classroom lessons

Help students build their knowledge and awareness about postsecondary education and training

Cover page of the Postsecondary Education and Training curriculumE1MN has created curriculum for educators to use with students in the classroom to help support the learning expectations of Minnesota's Youth in Transition Framework.

The lessons in the Postsecondary Education and Training: Building Awareness curriculum can help students build their knowledge and awareness about postsecondary education and training, and about the topics they can explore as they make plans for life after high school. They are a great way to introduce students to the Postsecondary Education and Training learning expectation topics.

Each 20-25 minute lesson plan uses videos, discussion questions, real-life stories, tools, and activities to create an interactive and engaging learning experience for students.

Download the Postsecondary Education and Training: Building Awareness curriculum (PDF) »

More classroom curriculum: In addition to these Postsecondary Education and training lessons, check out curriculum to support the Framework's other learning expectations »

LEARN: Develop your knowledge

Learn how to help youth explore postsecondary education and training options.

Get a primer on effective practices for postsecondary education and training with this postsecondary education and training preparation toolkit (PDF) from the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition. Also review Transition of students with disabilities to postsecondary education: A guide for high school educators from the Office for Civil Rights.

Postsecondary education and training options

  • PSEO and concurrent enrollment
  • Certification programs
  • Apprenticeship programs
  • Degree programs
  • Military opportunities
  • Community education

Postsecondary education and training enrollment

  • Entrance exams
  • Applications
  • Essays and resumes
  • Financial aid

Skills for success in postsecondary education and training

  • Learning strategies
  • Study skills
  • Test-taking skills
  • Organization
  • Time management

Self-advocacy in postsecondary education and training settings

  • Accommodations, modifications and assistive technology
  • On-campus supports
  • Rights and responsibilities
  • Other services and supports

The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT) offers counseling on postsecondary education opportunities, and Think College provides a directory of programs for students with intellectual disabilities. 

DO: Work with youth

Find resources to help youth explore postsecondary education and training options.

The expert guide for students with disabilities to succeed in college from Test Prep Insight covers all aspects of college life for youth with disabilities, including common challenges, tools for overcoming these obstacles and tips for academic performance.

Test Prep's Expert Guide for Students with disabilities to succeed in college webpage
Expert guide for students with disabilities to succeed in college

Choosing a college was developed by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to help youth explore local and national college options. Review with youth tips for evaluating colleges, validating a school's claims and more.

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education's Choosing a College webpage
Choosing a college

Think College is a national organization dedicated to developing, expanding and improving inclusive higher education options for people with intellectual disabilities. Minnesota's technical assistance center is the Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium.

Program options currently available in Minnesota include:

 

The Think College homepage
Think College

Youth Aspirations: Imagining and navigating futures in higher education helps youth envision higher education and begin to take steps toward their aspirations, including relying on supports, navigating barriers and reimagining what's possible.

University of Minnesota Extension's Youth Aspirations: A 4-H guidebook webpage
Youth Aspirations: Imagining and navigating futures in higher education

Share preparing for college from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education with the youth you support. Youth will learn what classes to take in high school, how to earn college credit in high school and how to map out a college prep timeline.

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education's Preparing for College webpage
Preparing for college

Encourage the youth you support to watch the PACER Center's videos on preparing for postsecondary education.

PACER Center's Preparing for Postsecondary Education webpage
Preparing for postsecondary education
Next: Postsecondary options »