Shift in the Provision of Introductory Career Services

Effective at the start of the 2025-26 school year, Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) will be implementing a new model for providing Introductory Career Services (ICS). Students will have access to virtual courses and work directly with their school staff to navigate ICS.

Since 2019 VRS has made ICS available statewide to students with disabilities who are between ages 14 and 22 and potentially eligible for the full vocational rehabilitation program, also known as Full Career Services or FCS. Until now, ICS have been arranged for students by Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) representatives assigned to every high school in the state.

Starting the 2025-26 school year, VRS is moving to a new statewide model which will include:

• Online group classes: Students will have access to ICS offered exclusively through engaging virtual courses aimed at exploring and preparing for the world of work. The courses will be free and offered at various times throughout the school day.
• Direct communication with school staff: School staff (such as IEP case managers, 504 coordinators, teachers, social workers or school counselors) will assist students with applying for ICS. VRS will provide the information staff need to help students register for and complete courses that address unmet career development needs. VRS will update school staff on student's class attendance and suggested next steps.

What is the same?

ICS is still available to all students with disabilities in Minnesota — typically students in 9th through 11th grade — now in a more accessible format.

Every high school will continue to have a VRS counselor assigned to provide FCS to students who qualify — typically those in 11th and 12th grades, or in 18-22 transition programming. Refer to the online directory to find the VRS counselor assigned to your school.

What is different?

With this new ICS online class model, Pre-ETS representatives will now work as a team to facilitate courses. This means that Pre-ETS representatives: 

• Will no longer be assigned to and work directly with any specific schools.
• Will no longer provide individualized services to students enrolled in ICS.

What about students already enrolled in ICS?

VRS staff will reach out to students/families already enrolled in ICS. If they're interested in continuing services under the new model, VRS staff will connect with the student's school staff to share the class registration process.  

How do I help a student access ICS?

School staff can access our website for additional information and how to connect students to services.