Year 13

After senior year, students will complete high school and transition to "Year 13." Here some students will pursue participation in college or various career preparatory programs. Students will be excited to get out on their own but are naïve about being on their own. Some may be fearful of life beyond. Students with disabilities can remain at school through to their 22 birthday. Those students in a program placement can stay on as post-graduates after their cohort graduates. These students can return and typically exit school with an applied studies diploma.

Parent Tips for Preparing Your Child for "Year 13"

Help your child set goals at the start of the senior year for post-high school
Consider community college, college bridge, and career study options
Discuss diploma types and services after "graduation/exiting school" with your child
Encourage career exploration and options for post-secondary options with your child
Explore programs and offerings and encourage your child to apply when needed
For students with disabilities: Work with the case manager to identify outside agencies you and your student can tap into, making sure the student has been referred to the Department of Aging and Rehabilitation and has had an intake meeting to determine needs and support after graduation/exiting

Ways to Support Your Child During "Year 13"

Attend parent information nights; take college tours; talk to job recruiters or school counselors.
Encourage your child to maintain consistent academic performance
For students with disabilities: Review and update the transition plan of the IEP. Ask for the counselor to be present to discuss what the student can enroll in if they will not be exiting school with their cohort and what independent living skills your student will need to work on while still in school to be more self-sufficient. World on self-advocacy and daily living skills.

Programs to Monitor Your Child's Progress

Discuss the following with your child: SAT, ASVAB, GPA finalization
Discuss the college program application process with your child
Review HAC, test scores and testing preparation programs
Monitor your child's college acceptance rates
For students with disabilities: review the classwork, assessments, and projects assigned to the student. Do they align with what the team determined would be utilized during the year? Call an IEP team and ask to review data regularly. Review the progress reports as they are provided. What do the comments say? Do they align with the goal and make sense? Can you see that connection? Is there data noted? Ask questions!

How to Communicate with Your Child's Teacher

Work to establish relationships with your child's teachers. Let them know that you are an involved parent. Ask questions about the content, homework, expectations, and assignments.
Discuss options with your child's school counselor
Work to establish relationships with your child's teachers. Let them know that you are an involved parent. Ask questions about the content, homework, expectations, and assignments.

How To Support Your Child's Social/Emotional Learning

Help your child set goals (personal and academic)
Discuss coping skills and stress management with your child
Help your child to better understand time-management
Discuss responsible decision-making (Budgeting, organization, etc.)
Discuss with your child the importance of establishing healthy relationships with others
Encourage students to get involved in community service or outreach and participate in intramural clubs/activities at the next level or the community