Transition Guidance
Madison Metropolitan School District’s vision for all students - that they will graduate career, college, and community ready - requires that there is a cohesive continuum of supports that extends from early education through the student’s experience in high school. As students move across and through key levels of schooling within their education, our transitions practices play an important role to support students as they gain skills, abilities, and knowledge to be confident problem-solvers with a growth mindset that will enable them to be global citizens.
For more information about transitions within MMSD and best practices to support successful transitions, please read the Transitions Guidance Document.
- Data Use
- Welcoming Environments and Practices
- Prepare All Students
- Prepare All Families
- Transitions for Some/Few Students
- Stakeholder Involvement
Data Use
Schools invested in student transition engage in information sharing that is relevant to supporting students at their new school. Within MMSD, we have many reports through Data Dashboard that can help receiving schools determine initial placements or supports, however, it is critical that the sending (current) school shares information beyond what is contained in numbers or not captured through data dashboard (e.g., any social-emotional screening, or Math benchmark screening data). When sharing student information, sensitive student information should not be contained in widely accessible electronic documents, like Google docs or forms, but should be shared in confidence in meetings between school student services staff.
It is imperative that schools review key sources of data for students, such as Data Dashboard and GOLD data (4K) to consider instructional implications and planning for new students. In Data Dashboard, key reports for reviewing student data are the 8th and 9th Grade HIgh School Success Report, the Planning Roster for High School, and the Considerations for Tiered Supports Roster. Additionally, some students may have individual support plans (ELLs, ALs, and students with IEPs) that should be taken into consideration when planning for instruction and support.
Supporting Resources
Data use guides for using Data Dashboard
Identify Data Reports from Data Dashboard
Available under the ‘Reports’ tab
- 4K-5K Transition
- Planning K-8 Roster
- Planning HS Roster
- Consideration for Tiered Supports K-8
- Consideration for Tiered Supports HS
Student Data Templates
Available Data Resources
Welcoming Environments and Practices
Environments that provide safe and welcoming spaces for students and families are critical to developing a positive school culture. Fostering a welcoming environment supports transition across levels.
Supporting Resources
- Welcome Letter Template
- “Welcome to 6th Grade” image for use in communications to families
- Flyer Template (English)
- Flyer Template (Spanish)
Descriptions
Schools can use this template to write a letter for families of students experiencing a key transition (4K-5K, 5th-6th grade, 8th-9th grade)
This document is meant to help schools process through making a plan for new students as well as students who may be leaving the school.
Prepare All Students
There are many articulation strategies that can be used to ensure that adequate preparation, foreshadowing,and communication for students occurs during the spring prior to the transition. Please remember this is an interactive, dynamic process involving school staff, families, students, and community partners.
Descriptions
The calendar provides a suggested overview timeline of when key actions should occur to support student transitions.
The Transition Plan includes an introduction, the blank plan template, an example plan, and a cover page for the example plan.
- 5/6 Grade Orientation
- 8/9 Grade Orientation
Prepare All Families
Families and students need support to navigate through and across critical transitions. There are many articulation strategies that can be used to ensure that adequate preparation, foreshadowing, and communication occurs during the spring prior to the transition. Please remember this is an interactive, dynamic process involving school staff, families, students, and community partners.
Descriptions
The calendar provides a suggested overview timeline of when key actions should occur to support student transitions.
- 5/6 Grade Orientation
- 8/9 Grade Orientation
- “Welcome to 6th Grade” image for use in communications to families
- Flyer Template (English)
- Flyer Template (Spanish)
These are resources from the communications department that schools can use for communication with families.
This resource is the Advanced Learning Plan and contains information about transitions.
This document is meant to help schools process through making a plan for new students as well as students who may be leaving the school.
Transitions for Some/Few Students
Implementing a robust, well-designed transition plan is important for all students. We also need to pay particular attention to students who may need additional supports and interventions during this critical time period to ensure success throughout the transition. As such, school teams incorporate these supported transitions in the context of their overall plan. Some students may need additional communication and planning to continue support and few students may need intensive planning and communication among key stakeholders to ensure a successful transition. These specialized transition practices are outlined in the following guidance documents for some and few students, depending on level of needed support.
Supporting Resources
Students who need academic intervention
Descriptions
Guidelines for transition of students who need additional support from interventions. Includes timeline of actions.
Students with IEPs
- Guidance and resources for transitions between key levels of students with IEPs.
- Website about post secondary transitions.
Students who are ELLs
Guidance for schools to support students who are English Language Learners (ELLs) and students who are in DLI/DBE programs.
Students who are Advanced Learners
Guidance and resources for schools related to meeting the needs of students who are Advanced Learners.
Students who are at-risk of not graduating
Website with resources related to the at-risk plan to support students who are at-risk of not graduating.
Stakeholder Involvement
The involvement of students and families in transitions is expanded on in the above sections, but schools may want to think beyond students and staff and consider the role that their community partners could play in enhancing the transition experience of all students and families. Each school team considers broad stakeholder involvement for their unique setting and community partnerships. Connecting families and community partners can extend connections to needed resources and build strong partnerships that holistically support students and their families.
In addition, schools will want to think about what ongoing professional learning needs to be incorporated within their PD plans to ensure staff has training on providing supports for student-centered transitions and the needs students have based on developmental changes for a particular time period. Also, school teams will consider what training key stakeholders need in order to enact the plan (e.g., peer buddy or mentor training, community partner).