In this interview, the director of the Federal National School-to-Work Office explains the School-to-Work Opportunities Act. This comprehensive, systemwide investment covers all age groups and is designed to help communities examine their workforce preparation programs, identify gaps, and devise plans for a system that serves all students. (MLH)

Personnel from 175 transitional programs for persons with disabilities rated academic/vocational integration and staff development as highest technical assistance needs, administrative leadership and budget as lowest. Special education coordinators rated ongoing career guidance/counseling significantly higher than did program directors. (SK)

For a middle school, family involvement in school life begins with the orientation program for incoming students. An effective transition program can help parents and prospective students anticipate a new school's academic and social expectations. This article describes a Vermont middle school's transition program, highlighting planning and…

Examined large sample of consecutive cases whose individuals participated in intensive transitional job-coaching program akin to job-coaching strategy emphasized within supported employment model. Findings from 84 consecutive cases illustrated effectiveness of transitional job coaching model to assist individuals with acquired brain injury in…

Reviews book describing service delivery model for transition program. Describes book as combination of pragmatic, specific information about transition program curriculum and philosophical and historical information. Suggests described program is comprehensive, community-integrated effort at transition program for students with mild disabilities.…

Surveyed 260 school districts in New York to determine whether they offered pre-first transition classes for children identified as unready for first grade and, if so, what information was used to make placement decision. Fifty-seven percent of districts reported that they had pre-first classes. All reported using teacher recommendations in…

A Vermont middle school, a grade 7-8 union (regional) school, developed an orientation program to meet the needs of over 300 incoming seventh-grade students coming from 9 elementary schools in 5 different districts, plus a parochial school. The program is planned by a coordinating council and a student-guidance team; emphasis is on clear-cut…

Surveyed 78 first-grade teachers about the effectiveness of transition classes for children who are not ready to be promoted from kindergarten to first grade. The teachers overwhelmingly supported transition classes and perceived them as beneficial despite the lack of empirical evidence to support these beliefs. (MDM)

Reviews the Oregon Transition Support Initiative, an ongoing research and implementation project that prevents recidivism by helping stakeholders help incarcerated youth return to their communities. Discusses the transition process as the working relationships that together accomplish the common goal of seeing that youth offenders learn the life…

This article offers guidance for preparing parents of infants in a neonatal intensive care unit to manage their child at home. Topics covered include effective, formal discharge teaching, providing information about child development, continuity of care from the hospital to home (including linkages with professionals, agencies, and other…

The eight chapters of this theme issue consider some key questions about school transitions or transfers, including effects on students' academic achievement and attitudes, ways to facilitate transfer while maintaining curriculum links, and how evidence about transfers is best gathered. Discusses how much credibility to give students' accounts of…

Positive Transitions for Student Athletes is a program designed to address the psychological and career-related issues surrounding the inevitable sport retirement transition faced by the majority of collegiate athletes. Provides a rationale for the development of sport retirement programs, as well as the Positive Transitions program and outcome…

This article presents suggestions and proven effective strategies for determining eligibility, conducting diagnostic workups, and providing vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with deaf-blindness. It emphasizes that the optimal rehabilitation process begins before the clients transfer from educational programs. (Author)

Prior to and following their first semester at college, most students view this transition as a normative experience. However, particular areas of concern perceived by students include: the way their interpersonal relationships might change, the length of time it might take to adjust, and the stresses associated with the first semester. (Author)

Following the diagnosis of a child's disability parents can find that their expectations are shattered. As they adjust to their new situation they will begin to develop new ideas of what the future will hold. Supporting families is a key theme in current government policy, hence the development of the Early Support Programme. In this paper Fran…