Exit individualized education programs of 331 students with moderate mental retardation were analyzed for their inclusion of 49 employer-designated important job skills. The most frequently addressed skills were in the category of work-related abilities, whereas the least frequently addressed skills were in the category of interpersonal skills.…

The National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) was assigned the task of compiling, analyzing, and summarizing the data for Indicator 1--Graduation--from the FFY 2009 Annual Performance Reports (APRs) and amended State Performance Plans (SPPs), which were submitted by states to the Office of Special Education…

Competence in algebra is linked to access to higher education, employment in better-paying jobs, and, increasingly, the ability to earn a high school diploma. For many students with learning disabilities, developing proficiency in algebra represents a challenging, but necessary goal. Teachers of students with learning disabilities need access to…

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) "Special Education at a Glance," which includes a copy of the "Guide to Planning and Assessing School-Based Special Education Programs," provides in a single document, information about the special education population at each Montgomery County (Maryland) public school, including…

The success that youth with disabilities achieve in school can be influenced by access to a range of services that support their education goals. As part of its mandate, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (IDEA '97) requires the provision of related services and supports to students with disabilities who are deemed…

This study examined the quality of transition components of the IEPs of 28 high school graduates with disabilities, their projected postsecondary outcomes and levels of satisfaction with these outcomes, and the correspondence between projected and actual outcomes. Results indicated that, although the quality of the transition components was not…

Student-directed IEPs are quickly gaining momentum in schools across the country--the proven benefits include higher academic achievement, enhanced student motivation, and increased communication and self-advocacy skills for students with disabilities. Now for the first time, there's a book that gives elementary and high school educators in-depth…

This paper focuses on "technologies for voice" that are related to the self-determination of youth with developmental disabilities. The authors describe a self-determination model that values family-focused, community-referenced pedagogies employing "new media" to give voice to youth and their families. In line with the adage that a picture is…

This brief is intended to provide State Education Agency (SEA) and Local Education Agency (LEA) educators with a brief overview of key components of GraduateFIRST, a Georgia program targeting issues impacting school completion for students with disabilities. Georgia's GraduateFIRST program has redefined the state's approach to raising graduation…

Successful transition planning for students with disabilities from school into adulthood seems to be a complex and difficult process. The 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) promote the development of successful transition planning; however, research has shown that special educators are not likely to engage in…

The National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) was assigned the task of compiling, analyzing and summarizing the data for Indicator 2--Dropout--from the FFY 2008 Annual Performance Reports (APRs) and the revised State Performance Plans (SPPs), which were submitted to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)…

Despite late modernity and risk society discourses about the decreasing influence of structural factors on educational and occupational attainment, it has also been argued that socio-economic background and gender continue to influence individuals' school-work transitions. Comparing youth apprentices and academic high school students in Canada and…

New Mexico defines a pathway as a planned program of study (course, Individualized Education Program [IEP] goals, objectives, and benchmarks) designed to address the needs of individual students. Students receiving special education services are able to earn their high school diploma option by following one of three pathways: Standard, Career…

The relationship between transition planning/coordinating interventions and transition outcomes for secondary-aged youth with disabilities was explored in this systematic review. A total of 31 studies intervening with 859 youth with a wide variety of disabilities were reviewed. Using the transition intervention framework of Kohler and Field (2003)…

All students can learn, including all students with disabilities. High expectation of learning for all students is essential for the success of any student's post school outcomes, whether work or education. Participation in statewide assessments is crucial in determining success and demonstrating equal opportunity and access to education.…