Improving Student Outcomes

Improving Student Outcomes: Promising Practices and Programs for 1998-1999*

A Directory of Innovative Approaches for Providing Transition Services for Youth with Disabilities by Paula D. Kohler, Ph.D. and Bonnie J. Troesken, M.Ed.

List of the 27 Promising Practices and Programs for 1998 - 1999

Maryland Transition Initiative, Baltimore, MD	Post-Secondary Program: Learning for Independence, Westminster, MD
MD Interagency State Plan, Baltimore, MD	Bridges...From School-to-Work, Washington, DC
Project Access, Columbia, MD	Lifelink, State College, PA
Blended Instruction, Baltimore, MD	Next S.T.E.P., Eugene, OR
Baltimore Work-Based Learning 2000	LINCS, Tacoma, WA
K-8 Elementary Career Curriculum, Mossville, IL	The Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction, Arlington, TX
KRESA MJC-RS: A Collaborative Transition Partnership, Kalamazoo, MI	Community Education and Support Services - CESS, Albuquerque, NM
Transition Program/Elizabeth High School, Elizabeth, NJ	Metro-South School-to-Career Partnership, Brockton, MA
Project Renew, Manchester, NH	Mid-Columbia STW Consortium, Hood River, OR
S-4, Student Self-Survival Skills Project, Millburn, NJ	Alabama Transition Initiative, Montgomery, AL
LINC-Pinellas Scans Lab, Largo, FL	Metropolitan Nashville Peer Buddy Program, Nashville, TN
Coordinated Employment Opportunities, Hartford, CT	Cooperative Transitional Services Program (CTSP), Kent, OH
Gateway Blueprint Project, Jasper, FL	School-to-Career & Transition Services, San Pablo, CA
Transitions Plus, Greenville, MI

Introduction

The National Transition Alliance for Youth and Disabilities (NTA) identified promising programs and practices that promote post-school outcomes for students with disabilities through inclusive school-to-work systems. The purpose of this initiative was to identify specific practices or programs that result in improved outcomes for students, such as development of specific skills, post-school employment, or enrollment in postsecondary education. An organization had the option to nominate (a) a specific practice or practices, such as its self-determination curriculum; or (b) a program comprised of several practices, such as its dropout prevention program or occupational skill training program. A variety of organizations submitted over 50 nominations.

We used three criteria to screen and evaluate the nominations: (a) the nomination featured a program or practices that provide transition- or School-to-Work-related services or instruction to students with disabilities; (b) the nomination provided sufficient information and evidence to understand the purpose, context, and activities of the program or practices; and (c) the nomination provided some sort of evaluation information to indicate the extent of implementation and the outputs and/or outcomes associated with that implementation.

Subsequently, we selected programs and practices as promising if they presented some evidence to indicate that their activities were benefiting students with disabilities. These benefits included improved skills levels, specific post-school experiences, and/or opportunities to participate in specific activities that we know help foster improved post-school outcomes (e.g., career exploration or work-based education).

We identified 27 promising programs. These programs include a variety of approaches and occur in a variety of contexts. For example, we identified two state-level initiatives that have been successful in facilitating effective practice implementation and system change, several programs that provide work-based educational experiences, two programs that focus on improving students’ self-determination, and three programs that provide services and instruction to young adults with disabilities between 18 and 22. We highlight these programs in this directory.

Detailed information about the programs is available on our web site www.dssc.org/nta. For more information, contact the NTA at the Transition Research Institute, 217-333-2325.

Dr. Paula Kohler, Transition Research Institute, University of Illinois

Kohler, P.D., & Troesken, B.J.. (1999). Improving student outcomes: Promising practices and programs for 1998-1999. [A directory of innovative approaches for providing transition services for youth with disabilities]. Champaign, IL: Transition Research Institute. University of Illinois.

This publication was supported under Cooperative Agreement DE-H158M50001 from the Office of Special Education Programs, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, and the National School-to-Work Office, U.S. Department of Labor. The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of these agencies and endorsement by the federal government should not be assumed.

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Updated 12/13/00