Leander - Liberty Hill Edition | January 2025

Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Leander ISD began construction on an expanded facility for its program to help special education students prepare for life after school. LISD’s 18-plus Transition Services and Science Materials Center helps special education students ages 18-22 transition into adulthood by gaining life skills and vocational training. Since launching in 2003, the program has grown from three to 145 students in the 2024-25 school year, said Denise Geiger, senior coordinator for special education transition. The center will allow the district to expand its program to up to 200 students. LISD breaks ground on services center

The background

Access to 18-plus programs is important for special education students, as those who receive a modied curriculum in school are likely to experience underemployment or unemployment in adulthood, Geiger said. The projects also includes the Science Materials Center, which will allow students to help produce and distribute science kits for the district’s 31 elementary campuses and expand support to secondary campuses, district ocials said. Voters approved $22.2 million for the 18-plus Transition Services building and $19.8 million for the new Science Materials Center in the district’s 2023 bond election. The district is constructing the facilities at a 9.1 acre site o West New Hope Drive next to the central transportation facility.

Science Materials Center (30,000 sq. ft.) • Training facilities for staff • Working areas • Storage areas for materials • Loading dock 18-plus Transition Services (33,900 sq. ft.) • Fitness room • Apartment living space • Classrooms • Sensory spaces • Commercial cooking lab • Storefront

Leander ISD ocials broke ground on the 18-plus Transition Services and Science Materials Center Dec. 6.

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