State Profile

New Jersey

Putting Practice into Writing: Legislation, Policy, and Regulation

• Inclusive language and intent - School-To-Careers (STC) for ALL students - are written in all state policies, regulations, and Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

• The State Interagency Directors' Forum on Transition, made up of numerous state agencies, was established to address issues, policies, regulations, and strategies for improving STC transition-related activities at the state and local levels.

• Sustaining elements of the Transition Systems Change Initiative are embedded in New Jersey's STC initiatives for ALL students.

• Cross-Content Workplace Readiness Standards have been identified as an integral part of the Core Curriculum Content Standards for ALL students.

Winning Combinations: State and Local Leadership and Partnerships

• Leadership at the state level is committed to developing a system to include STC.

• Team collaboration offers an ongoing dialog and support necessary for inclusion of ALL students in education and community.

Connecting the dots: Alignment of Resources and Programs

• Transition Counselors in Schools Project (TCIS), funded by the Office of Special Education Programs, N J Department of Education, provides consultation, training, technical assistance, and demonstration of exemplary transition and vocational rehabilitation practices to local education agencies for STW/transition planning.

• Transition coordinators are members of local youth councils.

• Professional development conferences for general and special educators, product and information sharing, and aligning results for ALL children were cooperative efforts by STC and Transition Systems Change.

• A new Transition Manual is being disseminated in 2000 to all appropriate districts, private schools, and agencies.

• World to Gain video (2000) highlights successful STC/transition strategies and demonstrates how public schools can be an appropriate setting for STC and students with severe disabilities.

• Summer student leadership conferences are jointly sponsored by the local STC partnerships and the New Jersey Office of Special Education Programs.

Leading by Example: Activities From Individual Local Partnerships

• Atlantic County Special Services School District (ACSSSD) includes school-based, work-based, and connecting community activities for students with disabilities - "classrooms without walls."

• The Workforce Investment Board has provided partial funding for ACSSSD student training wages for the past several years.

• Community-based programming has improved attendance rate and test scores. 70% of students have jobs upon graduation.

• ACSSSD sponsored a summer institute for staff from comprehensive high schools in the county to learn about and consider replicating ACSSSD model for ALL learners.

• Two products are available to order: Best Practices in Transition Video and Transition Curriculum with IEP Data Base.

• ACSSSD has 40 different business partners. A major reason for success is that ACSSSD staff is at the place of work, develops relationships, job carves, and "success breeds success."

• When STC funding ends this year, the local Board of Education is picking up entire funding for program.

Successes and Challenges

• Success – State Interagency Directors' Forum is the catalyst for state leadership and vision for developing a system that includes STC for ALL students.

• Success – Technical assistance and training are customized to local education agencies.

• Success – Summer Student Leadership Conferences empower students and fosters collaboration with local colleges.

• Challenge – There are always continuing issues that will require working together to resolve. This process takes time and is labor intensive, requiring identification of effective mechanisms and protocol for impact.

• Challenge – There are concerns regarding health and safety, insurance and liability, and qualified staff for community-based programs. Currently, there is a teacher shortage.

• Challenge – Recognizing the importance of the VR connection before services end at 21 and ensuring the connection is made is a challenge.

• Challenge – Accurate assessment of workplace readiness skills is a challenge.

What’s Next?: Sustainability

• Cross-Content Workplace Readiness Standards - basic principles for ALL students - are being integrated into K-12 curriculum.

• The adopted code emphasizes the need for the implementation of a developmental career guidance and career awareness program.

• State leadership is committed to developing a system that includes STC for all students.

Contact Information

Office of School to Career and College Initiatives, Marie Barry, New Jersey Department of Education, P.O. Box 500, Trenton, NJ 07625-0500

Website: http://www.state.nj.us/education

Bob Haugh and Marie Barry, New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Russell V. Grecco, Principal, Atlantic County Special Services School District

May, 2000