Central to the design of the Bridge School educational program is the goal to return children to their home school district once they have achieved competence with augmentative/alternative communication and technology for learning. The Bridge School is not designed to be a permanent placement for any student. Through it's Transition services, Bridge School continues to provide long-term support to students who have "graduated" from our program and have returned to their home school districts. Planning and work toward each student's eventual return to their home school environment takes place from the very first Bridge School IEP meeting. Families and staff work together to identify a set of future educational directions for each student. Targeted educational environments are reviewed and modified throughout the time a student is in our program.

As the student develops his/her communication skills within the Bridge School environment, work also moves forward in the area of Transition. When the IEP team determines that a student is ready for transition, Bridge School collaborates with the student's home school district to cooperatively plan for the transition.

While at Bridge School, each student spends a percentage of his or her day in a general education classroom environment. Our partnership with the Hillsborough City School District gives each Bridge School student the opportunity to participate in an age-appropriate classroom at North Elementary School. The general education curriculum is modified to meet the specific needs of our students. Modifications may include alternate forms of testing, extra class time to complete assignments, reading materials aloud to students or adjusting the goals and objectives of assignments.

Prior to leaving Bridge School, Transition Team members work with the student's team to:

• assess potential placements
• document effective strategies used at Bridge School
• identify appropriate expectations for academic and social participation
• provide guidance to staff and families to navigate the transition process

Upon transitioning, many former Bridge School students experience success in the general education environment with support, appropriate modifications, and with the aid of paraprofessionals. However, for a small number of students, an alternate program placement is still most appropriate. In all school districts, a continuum of services must be available. The Bridge School Transition Team is available to work with former students and their educational teams, regardless of choice of placement.

After Transition, the team supports students and their receiving educational team by:

• providing suggestions for adaptation and modification
• helping with the set-up of adapted materials and equipment
• training staff in the unique AAC and educational strategies developed and implemented at Bridge School
• maintain an active role in the educational team process

This Transition Team is available, at no cost to the parent or the school district, to provide support as needed for the duration of the child's public school education with the home school district.