Editor's Note: This commentary is based on the conference sessions, "Orientation and Mobility Career, College and Community Readiness Standards," by Kathryn Botsford and Mary Tellefson, and "Engaging Students, Families and Teams for Success After High School," by Sheila Koenig, which took place on Thursday, February 28, 2019,…

This report includes summaries of Minnesota student demographics, child count, enrollment counts, graduation rates, and assessment results for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years. The trend data reflects the achievements, milestones, and areas of concern for students with the primary disability classification of blind or visually impaired (BVI)…

Federal education benefits for veterans represent a substantial investment--$18 billion since 2009 under the Post-9/11 GI Bill--in the development of a skilled American workforce. Unfortunately, this investment does not always pay off because many veterans encounter serious obstacles as they attempt to navigate the higher education system and the…

In this brief, Christine Patton and Justina Wang, from Harvard Family Research Project, look at ways of helping to make the transition into kindergarten a positive experience that will serve as a foundation to help children reach their full potential throughout their school years. The brief highlights promising practices in six states--New Jersey,…

Reports results of a Minnesota field-based study indicating that prerelease/transition programming and support must begin upon entry, continue during incarceration, and continue after release. Lists 10 areas of focus for effective programs and includes an annotated bibliography of 12 manuals and resources for transition programs. (JOW)

This paper reports on Minnesota's efforts to implement supported employment projects, and reports on community-based vocational activities provided by day training and habilitation centers in 1986. A survey was conducted of 96 providers of adult services throughout the state of Minnesota. Seventy-eight returned completed surveys with information…

This report provides an in-depth look at five different programs, all of which currently, or are making efforts to, include a broad range of students. The five Credit-Based Transition Programs (CBTPs) studied are located in five states--California, Iowa, Minnesota, New York and Texas--and included two dual enrollment programs (one with a career…

Describes two Head Start projects designed to make the transition from preschool to kindergarten less stressful for Head Start children and their families. Programs are the Mille Lacs Reservation Head Start program in Minnesota and the East Coast Migrant Head Start project in Fort Pierce, Florida. Project evaluations are summarized. (BB)

The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) is a welfare reform initiative based on enhancing welfare recipients' incentives to get a job and requiring long-term welfare recipients to participate in employment-focused activities. The effects of the MFIP were compared to those of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program through…

This report explores the status and experiences of 388 students with disabilities who have benefited from transition improvement efforts in Minnesota over the last decade. Improvements in transition services have included establishment of a state transition interagency committee and an interagency office on transition services, development of an…

Minnesota divides its Title IV-E-IL allocation among three components of a statewide program titled Support for Emancipation and Living Functionally (SELF). SELF is a state-supervised, county-implemented program based on the premise that youth in substitute (foster) care are at significant risk of not making a successful transition to independent…