The overall goal of the Building State Capacity Summit series was to enhance successful outcomes for students leaving high school, whether it is matriculation in a postsecondary education or training program, or employment. Young adults who are deaf or hard or hearing face barriers that inhibit these successful outcomes. One way to mitigate these…

To enhance state-level adult education and employment policy, in 2007 the Joyce Foundation began the Shifting Gears (SG) initiative to assist six states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) to integrate adult education, workforce development and postsecondary education policies and improve job opportunities for low-skilled…

This paper examines the broad concept of college readiness, the research on advanced placement courses in high schools, and recommends that a statewide effort is needed to increase college readiness, college acclimation, college persistence, and college graduation rates. This effort needs to include a shared vision and the inclusion of multiple…

The Council of Chief State School Officers' position paper on disabled students beyond school distinguishes among three groups of students who require minimal, interim, or continuing support to make the transition to work or postsecondary education and independent living. Obstacles to a smooth transition are noted, as well as federal efforts to…

A developing concern in Minnesota for the fact that a greater percentage of special needs students than non-special needs students tends to drop out of postsecondary vocational education prompted a project to promote articulation--transition--for these students into postsecondary education. A statewide survey was conducted to determine current…

This report presents recommendations that address needed changes and improvements in state policies, administrative practices, and school and community service programs, in relation to school-to-adult-life transition of young people with disabilities in Minnesota. Recommendations were derived from two sources: (1) reviews of state plans and…

A team of representatives of Virginia state agencies involved in career preparation and employment examined the development and establishment of school-to-work transition (SWT) programs in Virginia. The team conducted a literature review and analyzed 42 selected state programs. The 16 school-based programs primarily provided classroom instruction…

Designed for parents and professionals facing development of transition programs in their own communities, this guide offers in Section 1 an overview of noncollegiate educational options after high school for students with disabilities who need additional time and training to prepare for adulthood. It covers employment, postsecondary education and…

A study explored performance of the Arizona School-to-Work (STW) system in meeting the six goals established by the state STW Division. Goal 1 was to create a self-sustaining STW system at the state and regional levels. The state developed state policies and goals and provided implementation funding to partnerships, but no continuation funding.…

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 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…

A study examined the impacts of different education and training (E&T) assignments in Ohio's Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Training Program on the employment and earnings of Aid to Families with Dependent Children recipients who became mandatory JOBS clients in 1989 or 1990. Data on the JOBS assignments and earnings and employment…

This document contains task force findings and recommendations regarding development of a statewide plan for facilitating education and employment transitions (EET) of youths and adults throughout Minnesota. Chapter 1 presents a rationale for a statewide EET system in the context of the employment/earnings patterns of Minnesota youths and adults,…

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,…

This document shares the collective wisdom and experience of professionals who have successfully guided the transition of hundreds of youths and adults from New York's correctional institutions back into the community. The first section begins with an overview of the New York State Education Department's transition program model to move…