At AVI Human Services, we believe in the power of informed, student-centered support. The Transition Readiness Tool (TRT) is one of the ways we help educators and service providers evaluate and enhance the skills of students preparing for life beyond school. Recently, we asked providers to share specific success stories from their work with the TRT—and their responses told a powerful story of growth, insight, and impact.
Building Confidence Through Visible Progress
One of the most meaningful outcomes reported was an increase in student confidence. As one provider noted,
“Students do gain confidence when they see their scores go up.”
Seeing tangible progress from pre- to post-evaluation empowers students to recognize their own growth. For many, it becomes a source of motivation and validation, reinforcing the connection between effort and improvement.
Data That Drives Better Teaching
The TRT isn’t just a tool for evaluation—it’s a foundation for responsive teaching. Providers shared how the data helped them fine-tune their lesson planning and better address individual needs. One respondent explained:
“Personally, I have been learning how to make data-informed decisions and base my lessons off of real-time data to fit students’ needs. Parents appreciate being able to see their students’ progress in a chart format, and it’s helpful for the students too.”
This use of real-time feedback helps providers stay aligned with each student’s development—and fosters greater trust among students, families, and educators.
Revealing Needs That Might Be Overlooked
The TRT also plays an important role in uncovering needs that may not be immediately visible.
“I had a student who I thought was much more advanced in certain areas, and after giving the assessments, it proved me wrong,” one provider shared. “The TRT made it more private for this student to show me where they needed help.”
Especially for students who may not self-advocate, the TRT creates a safe space for identifying areas for support—without stigma or discomfort.
Enabling Focused Instruction with Real Impact
Because the TRT highlights specific skill areas, it helps providers focus their instruction where it matters most.
“We saw that job seeking was the lowest, so we changed the focus for second semester. We saw an improvement after four focused lessons.”
Targeted interventions like these ensure that no time or opportunity is wasted, and that students receive relevant, timely instruction to support their transition goals.
Supporting Aspirations—and Opening New Pathways
Perhaps the most moving stories were those about how the TRT supported students in envisioning a future beyond what they previously thought possible.
“I have two girls going to cosmetology school, a student pursuing music education, and a student who wanted to drop out of school turned it around and applied to a technical school,” a provider reported. “Before this process, I wasn’t hopeful these kids would have dreams beyond graduation.”
Through focused planning and the insights gained from the TRT, these students discovered pathways aligned with their interests and talents—and found the confidence to pursue them.
Strengthening Programs Through Strategic Insight
The TRT’s benefits aren’t limited to individual growth. Providers also described how it strengthened their broader service delivery:
“We were able to see trends and design programming accordingly.”
“It’s helped me provide specific services tailored to individual needs based on comparing the scores.”
From adjusting curricula to refining agency-wide programming, the data from the TRT helps ensure that services are not only well-intentioned but well-informed.
Looking Ahead
The feedback we received makes clear that the TRT is more than a set of evaluations—it’s a catalyst for transformation. Whether helping students recognize their own progress, guiding educators toward more impactful instruction, or shaping more responsive programs, the TRT is proving to be an essential part of preparing youth for their futures.
We are grateful to the providers who shared their experiences, and we look forward to continuing to support their work with tools that make a difference.
If you’re interested in learning more about the TRT or how to implement it in your program, contact us here or explore our resources on TRT implementation.