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Domain 8: Leadership & Policy

8.1 Adhere to district, state, and federal transition requirements

8.2 Ensure teachers implement federal and state policies related to transition

8.3 Disseminate transition resources to stakeholders (i.e., educators, service providers, employers)

8.4 Train district professionals, community agencies, and transition stakeholders about transition

8.5 Advocate for transition program changes when needed

8.6 Engage in individual student advocacy when needed

8.7 Demonstrate professional ethics in role as a transition coordinator

8.8 Collect post-school outcomes data for youth exiting school

8.9 Use outcomes data to improve transition programs

8.10 Use evidence-based practices and research to develop transition programs

SPED 756 Running Project

8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.5, 8.8, 8.9, 8.10

IDEA requires schools to use evidence-based practices to enhance postschool outcomes for students with disabilities. (Wright, 2004). By mandating the use of practices grounded in research, high schools and transition service agencies have had to redefine what it means to follow the spirit of the law for transition planning. In the article " Implementing Secondary Transition Evidence-Based Practices: A Multi-State Survey of Transition Service Providers", the researchers state that inadequate transition outcomes for youth with disabilities led to a demand for enhanced transition service delivery through the implementation of evidence-based practices (Mazzotti, Plotner, 2016). 

As part of my SPED 756 course, I chose to evaluate the changes that my school has made in the last two years to improve our transition program with the use of evidence-based practices. Based on interviews with our Transition Coordinator and Process Coordinator, as well as a review of current legislation, I was able to determine that Nixa High School is on the right path to going above and beyond the letter of the law by providing students with disabilities greater opportunities for success following graduation. 

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QI Survey & Reflection

8.1, 8.2, 8.5, 8.9, 8.10

The reauthorization of IDEA in 2004 included specific requirements for the development of transition plans for youth with disabilities. This meant that schools were required to created student-centered transition plans based on age appropriate assessments, and they had to provide transition instruction that included opportunities for work experience and connection to area agencies (Wright, 2004). This change in policy meant that many schools across the country had to update their transition programs to provide students with the means to become productive members of society, and to reach their dreams for career, life-long learning, and independent living. 

To measure the effectiveness of their transition program, many schools use the QI-2. The Quality Indicators of Exemplary Transition Programs Needs Assessment – 2 (QI-2) is an assessment available through the Transition Coalition that can be used to gauge the quality and comprehensiveness of school transition programs (Morningstar, Lee, Lattin, Murray, 2016). This assessment covers a wide range of domains, which are: Transition Planning, Transition Assessment, Family Involvement, Student Involvement, Transition-Focused Curriculum and Instruction, Interagency Collaboration and Community Services, Systems-Level Infrastructure. Within these domains, the QI-2 also measures the school's performance in student-centered planning, cultural responsiveness, and authentic life experiences (Morningstar, Lee, Lattin, Murray, 2016).

As part of my SPED 856 course, I completed the QI-2 survey through the Transition Coalition to measure the effectiveness of my district's Transition program. I have included a copy of the results from the survey, as well as my reflection of the information provided. In this reflection I identify the strengths and weaknesses in my district's transition programming, and I provide strategies for enhancing the program to better fit the needs of our students. 

Indicator 14 & the Missouri State Performace Plan

8.1, 8.2, 8.8, 8.9

In the article "An Analysis of State Data Collection Protocols for Measuring Postschool Outcomes for Students With Disabilities", the researchers reviewed the methods in which every state collects data on their schools' compliance with IDEA's Indicator 14. The states are looking for data regarding graduation rate for students with disabilities, as well as participation in  post-secondary education, career training programs, and employment. Although it is mandated for all states to compile this data, there is not a standardized system for the methods in which the data is collected. As a result,  Gerber, Batalo, and De Armnet, report that some states look at more information than is required, such as daily living skills and community participation, whereas others only monitor the mandated information. 45 of the 50 states do have protocols in place for collecting data state-wide. Maryland and Florida each uses longitudinal census data. California, Georgia, and Missouri allow schools to gather the data using their own methods, which is then reported to a central database (Gerber, Batalo, De Armnet, 2014). 

According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the state began officially monitoring Indicator 14 in 2009.

"School districts in Missouri are responsible for contacting every youth who is no longer in secondary school and had an IEP in effect
at the time they left school in order to determine the follow-up status for each youth. Districts conduct this census follow-up annually" (Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2017).

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Table from Missouri's 2016 Annual Performance Report

At Nixa High School, the Transition Coordinator works with the school counselors to maintain contact with graduating students and to collect follow-up data on post-secondary education and employment.  This information is reported to the state, which is than shared to the public through the district's Special Education Profile from that year. 

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Table from Nixa Public School's Special Education District Profile 2016-17

References

Flannery, K.B., Lombardi, A., Kato, M.M. (2015) The Impact of Professional Development on the Quality of the Transition Components of IEPs. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 38(1), 14-24.


Gerber, P.J., Batalo, C.G., DeArmnet, S.T. (2014) An Analysis of State Data Collection Protocols for Measuring Postschool Outcomes for Students with Disabilities. Career and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 37(2), 97-105


Holzberg, D.G., Clark, K.A., Morningstar, M.E. (2018) Transition-Focused Professional Development: An Annotated Bibliography of Essential Elements and Features of Professional Development. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 41(1), 50-55.


Mazzotti, V.L., Plotner, A.J. (2016) Implementing Secondary Transition Evidence-Based Practices: A Multi-State Survey of Transition Service Providers. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 39(1), 12-22

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (2017) FFY2016  State Performance Plan /Annual Performance Report. Retrieved From: https://dese.mo.gov/sites/default/files/APR-2016B-MO%20public.pdf

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (2017) Special Education District Profile: Nixa Public Schools. Retrieved from: https://mcds.dese.mo.gov/guidedinquiry/Special%20Education/Special%20Education%20Profile%20Report%20-%20Public.aspx


Morningstar, M.E., Lee, H, Lattin, D.L., Murray, A.K. (2016) An Evaluation of the Technical Adequacy of a Revised Measure of Quality Indicators of Transition. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 39(4), 237-236.


National Post-School Outcomes Center (2010) Frequently Asked Questions: Revised Part B Indicator 14 Post-School Outcomes. National Technical Assistance Center on Transition. Retrieved from: https://www.transitionta.org/sites/default/files/NPSO_I-14_Meas_Table_FAQs.pdf

Transition Coalition (n.d.) Quality Indicators of Exemplary Transition Programs Needs - 2 (QI-2). University of Kansas. Retrieved from: https://transitioncoalition.org/qi-survey-introduction/

 

Wright, P. W.D. (2004) Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act: Overview, Explanation, and Comparison. Retrieved from: http://www.wrightslaw.com/idea/idea.2004.all.pdf

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