The research study sought to determine the status of student assessment instrumentation and practices in programs dealing with the transition of special education students from school to work or postsecondary education, and to determine areas where current practice was not able to meet the changing demands of transitional services. Transition projects funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services were surveyed to determine the student competencies assessed, commercially available or locally developed instruments used, and usefulness of the information obtained. Twelve competency categories were identified: general ability/intelligence, special ability, vocational skills, academic achievement, language, adaptive behavior, social skills, career interest, motor skills/dexterity, lifestyle/consumer satisfaction, daily living skills, and survival skills. Following an overall analysis of the projects' use of the identified instruments, 3 appendixes provide: (1) the survey instrument; (2) reviews of 141 of the instruments, providing such information as publisher, cost, date of publication, competencies assessed, population characteristics, recommended uses, test content and format, skills/materials required, norming/standardization practices, reliability, and validity; and (3) a bibliography. (JDD)