How Well Are We
Preparing Students for the Journey to Adulthood?
The National Post-School Outcomes Center
It has been said that success is a journey, not a
destination. So how well are we preparing students with disabilities for the
trip? It’s a question we need to ask young people with disabilities who have
left school and are trying to make it in the adult world. We do that every year
by using post-school outcomes surveys.
About a year after leaving school, young adults in selected
school districts in Kentucky who had Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
will be contacted for a survey to see how well they are doing. Are they
enrolled in college? Are they pursuing some kind of job training? Have they
found competitive employment? These are all good questions.
Surveys are conducted between April and September every year
in every state. Participation is voluntary, of course, but the input from
former students who take a little time to offer feedback is invaluable. The
information is used to improve how we prepare youth with disabilities to move
from high school to adulthood – a big step for any student.
Locating former students can be a challenge, however. Young
adults tend to be quite mobile so it’s likely that at a student’s final IEP
meeting, schools will ask students for accurate telephone numbers and e-mail
addresses for family members – and others who know the student well – before
they leave school. That way, it will be much easier for them to reach former
students and find out how they are doing in the future.
The
data is collected in different ways by
different states. In Minnesota ,
for example, a case manager or service person from the student’s former school
conducts the phone interview. To learn more about how Kentucky collects data visit Kentucky Post School Outcome Center (KYPSO).
States are required to collect this information under the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in order to develop
strategies to improve the number of former students with disabilities who are
enrolled in higher education or are competitively employed. All answers are
confidential and the responses are anonymously compiled into a representative
sample of former students. The results are included in the Annual Performance
Report each state submits to the U.S. Department every year in the section for
“Indicator 14” (Post-school outcomes). Kentucky’s most recent progress report
is available online at Kentucky Post School Outcome Center (KYPSO) or at KDE Special
Education Services.
Everyone wants to see students with disabilities become
successful adults. Research indicates that when parents, teachers, and students
work together to map out a realistic plan for the future, the transition to
adulthood goes more smoothly. The more we know about the journey former students
are on today, the better we can help other youth with disabilities make their
travel plans for tomorrow.