(a) As used in this section and sections 10-74q and 10-74r:

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(1) “Transition service” means a service for a student who requires special education that facilitates the student’s transition from school to postsecondary activities such as postsecondary education and training, employment or independent living;

(2) “Transition resources” means sources of information, counseling or training concerning transition services or programs;

(3) “Public transition program” means a program operated by a local or regional board of education or a regional educational service center to provide transition services as recommended by the planning and placement team for a student who requires special education and is eighteen to twenty-two years of age, inclusive, based on the goals set forth in such student’s individualized education program; and

(4) “Transition coordinator” means a director of pupil personnel or other person employed by a local or regional board of education, as designated by such director, who assists parents and students in the school district governed by such board navigate the transition resources, transition services and public transition programs available for such students.

(b) The Department of Education shall employ a State-wide Transition Services Coordinator within the Bureau of Special Education. The State-wide Transition Services Coordinator shall (1) coordinate the provision of transition resources, transition services and public transition programs throughout the state in collaboration with the liaisons appointed by other state agencies pursuant to section 10-74m, (2) establish minimum standards for public transition programs and metrics for measuring such standards, (3) perform unannounced site visits of public transition programs for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of and suggesting improvements to such programs and post data on the department’s Internet web site related to how such public transition program measured against the minimum standards established pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, (4) develop and make available on the department’s Internet web site a course for educators and school staff who do not provide transition services to inform such educators and staff about transition services and programs, including, but not limited to, about the purpose, essential programming and deadlines of such programs, (5) establish minimum standards for the training of transition coordinators and maintain a record of each transition coordinator completing the training program developed by the Department of Education pursuant to section 10-74r, and (6) establish best practices for the provision of transition services and distribute such best practices to each transition coordinator.

(c) The Commissioner of Education shall (1) hire at least one Assistant State-wide Transition Services Coordinator to assist with the duties of the State-wide Transition Services Coordinator as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, and (2) make available such staff as the needs of the State-wide Transition Services Coordinator and such Assistant State-wide Transition Services Coordinator require.