Policy and Practice Implications for Secondary and Postsecondary Education and

Employment for Youth With Disabilities

September 18 and 19, 2003

Washington, DC

A National Leadership Summit on Improving Results for Youth

Using Postschool Data for Program ImprovementCinda Johnson, Ed.D.

Center for Change in Transition Services

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington

Measures of Success for Special Education Washington Assessment of Student Learning

(WASL) Drop-out rates Postschool Outcomes

Postsecondary attendance Employment Engagement in one or both Agency Connection

Special Education Goals, Objectives and Performance Indicators Increase the rate of postsecondary

enrollment Increase the rate of employment Increase the rate of linkages with adult

service agencies

(OSPI, 2000)

History

Postschool data collected by University of Washington (Edgar, et al.)

UW Systems Change Project Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

contracts with UW (1998-present) Part of Local Educational Agency application

The IEP and Postschool OutcomesWashington State Postschool outcome data is

connected to the anticipated outcome on the Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Postsecondary training as a goal Employment as a goal Agency connection as a goal

Research

How can we collect and disseminate postschool data to facilitate use for program improvement?

How do schools use data for program improvement?

How does the state use data for program improvement?

Use of Data for Improvement at the State Level State Improvement Grant, Goal 2, Improve

the postschool outcomes for youth in special education.

State team with agency personnel examining data.

Agencies outside of OSPI using data for strategic planning (DVR).

County community councils. Training and technical assistance.

Support of Data Collection

Tied to Biannual Report LEA applications State Improvement Grant State Needs Project at UW

LEAs collect data UW enters, analyzes, and reports

Report back to stakeholder, constituents, local, state, and federal level.

Lessons Learned, and learned, and learned… Buy in from districts is difficult. Entering data is time consuming, expensive

and tedious. Last minute data collection is difficult. Start early spring prior to IEP archiving. Involve students.

Lessons Learned, and learned, and learned… Share the data with other agencies. Value the support of the OSPI. Buy in from districts can be developed. Involve teachers and staff. Caller ID is not our friend

Contact Informationhttp://depts.washington.edu/

cctsCinda Johnson, Ed.D

Center for Change in Transition Services

Box 357925

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington 98195

cindajoh@u.washington.edu

206-543-4011