This study used comparative interrupted times series analyses to assess the impact of a continuous improvement-focused family engagement intervention on ninth grade attendance and course passing rates. The intervention, conducted in an urban district, sought to improve middle and high school family engagement practices during the transition to…

Understanding the developmental responsiveness of secondary school environments may be an important factor in supporting students as they make the transition from one school to the next. Students' needs may or may not be met depending on the nature of the fit between their basic and developmental needs and secondary school structures at the middle…

Students with disabilities are less likely than their peers to access or succeed in postsecondary education settings. In one county, students with disabilities are taught within inclusive high school environments where deficits in reading skills, self-determination attributes, and study skills are not included in the curriculum. In place of these…

Many students with intellectual disabilities want to graduate with their peers and move on to the next phase of their lives. By the time students have reached age 18, most have exhausted the coursework the school system has to offer, and they have yet to master the skills necessary for employment and independent living. Community-based transition…

The integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions through positive behavior supports (PBS) can provide benefit for students, staff, and families (Bohanon et al., 2006; Turnbull et al., 2002). However, there is limited application of PBS to high schools settings (Sugai, Flannery, & Bohanon, 2004). However, preliminary data is…

A transition program was developed which pairs learning-disabled high-school juniors with mentors. Mentor/protege teams work cooperatively to complete tasks related to the individual protege's goals. Preliminary results show increased graduation and postsecondary enrollment rates. (Author/PB)

Many students with disabilities entering the 9th grade express concern about getting lost in the larger high school environment, being picked on by older students, and having more challenging academic classes. The transition from middle-to-high school process for students with disabilities at Westminster High School in suburban Los Angeles is a…

This "snapshot" illustrates how one school is managing to make a positive difference for ninth graders. It describes the Ninth Grade Success Academy, a school-within-a-school at Thomas A. Edison High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which has a number of features specifically designed to help ninth-graders make successful…

As more students with learning disabilities are enrolling in college, a formalized collaborative transition model at the high school level is needed. This paper discusses roles of various transition team members, including the student, parents, transition case managers, guidance counselors, school psychologists, rehabilitation counselors, and…

A survey of 97 Florida and Georgia middle schools and their receiving high schools revealed that schools with two or fewer transition practices had significantly higher attrition and dropout rates than schools implementing three or more practices. Sample programs include the ninth-grade house, parent nights, advisory/mentoring programs, and…

This article describes the purpose of vocational rehabilitation and the service delivery process for individuals with learning disabilities in transition from school to work or postsecondary education settings. Suggestions are made to prepare families and students with learning disabilities, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and special…

This article synthesizes descriptions of and recommendations for community transition teams which assist in the transition of youth with learning or other disabilities from school to adult life. The levels, composition, and functions of transition teams are described. Community-level transition teams are shown to be critical support vehicles for…

Discusses results of a study examining self-perceptions of students moving from middle level to high schools. Kids reported a significant drop in perceived physical appearance, job competence, romantic appeal, conduct, and global self-worth. A transition team can help eighth graders develop an understanding of the academic rigors and cocurricular…

The core of the education system must be transformed to make it supportive of exceptional students in transition. Attempts to improve the system by adding on programs rather than instituting core changes have not been effective. A "teaming" process that promotes school-community and interagency collaboration and infuses transition into the core of…

Analysis of surveys completed by 186 transition teams found that schools are generally complying with transition requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act with the exception of the requirement to reconvene the Individualized Education Program team if planned transition services are not provided. The strongest predictor of…