Many youth with disabilities experience persistently low rates of competitive integrated employment (CIE) and participation in higher education. In 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) established a policy focus on CIE as the goal of vocational services for youth and individuals with disabilities. In addition, WIOA created…

After decades, the concept of "how to change the status quo of deaf education" continues to dazzle and frustrate us intellectually and academically. We want deaf and hard of hearing students to achieve academically and to thrive in the world as adults. Yet, too often, test scores and post-school outcomes remain unacceptably low. Our…

This report of a survey of eight states which implemented the School to Work Opportunities Act (STWOA) provides information on provisions in the state plans, the extent to which special educators participate in planning and implementation efforts, and how the needs of students with disabilities have been addressed. An overview is provided of the…

The guidelines specify principles and procedures for coordinating special services to members of Illinois' limited-English-proficient (LEP) school-age population, including transitional bilingual education and other transitional instructional programs, with other service areas. The first section presents the state board of education's vision…

These Congressional hearings contain testimony pertinent to passage of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1993, which is a bill designed to create a national framework within which states and localities can develop effective systems for offering U.S. youths access to performance-based education and training programs that will in turn prepare…

This Alaskan state plan details services to be provided to preschool, elementary, and secondary students for Fiscal Years 1995, 1996, and 1997 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The state plan discusses compliance and services under IDEA provisions that address: (1) the right to education; (2) full educational…

This hearing considered reauthorization of the discretionary programs of the Education of the Handicapped Act which focus on technical assistance; personnel development; information dissemination; research; technology, educational media, and materials; and demonstration projects. Issues considered include ensuring that minority children with…

This guide, which is one of three guides designed to provide state and local leaders, policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders with information about the work-based learning component of the School to Work Opportunities Act, deals with connecting activities performed by school-to-work coordinators. The introduction traces the history of…

This paper, which is intended as a guide for state policymakers, examines issues and steps in building state-level school-to-work systems. Discussed in the introduction are the state's role in creating a coherent school-to-work system. The following aspects of state-level governance, oversight, and vision are considered: setting system goals,…

A project was designed to improve employment preparation, development, and opportunity for handicapped learners through preservice training of California personnel who deliver vocational and special education. The project developed training modules to be shared by California universities and disseminated to other schools. This report summarizes…

Progress in integration of state-level welfare and work force development systems in the Midwest was examined through case studies of 10 communities in 7 states. The case studies focused on local-level coordination and/or integration between the welfare and work force development systems. Despite legislative mechanisms to encourage collaboration,…

This resource and planning guide is designed to help Wisconsin school districts, community agency personnel, and education practitioners implement the designated vocational instruction (DVI) approach and thereby accelerate and enhance the ability of disabled students to meet specific instructional competencies and educational outcomes. The…

This document, which is intended to assist Colorado's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) staff, educators, students, and students' families, presents the answers to selected questions regarding eligibility for and delivery of cooperative educational and vocational rehabilitation services for youth in transition. The introduction provides…

Federal funding from the School to Work Opportunities Act (STOWA) has ended. There is no doubt that state policy to advance activities started under STOWA will be a major factor in the sustainability of School to Work. Already some states have taken the initiative for bringing higher standards to education by offering incentives for businesses to…

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…