The State of Personnel Preparation: Secondary Transition

Presentation at the CEC Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT) Annual Conference

Developing an Engaging and Sustainable Mentoring Program

This article is based on the work of Project 10 STING RAY at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP) regarding techniques and resources used to build a successful mentoring program. This is intended for individuals with inclusive higher education programs who are interested in starting a mentoring program or expanding their mentor presence. Mentor recruitment, training, responsibilities, and finances are discussed

Inclusive Higher Education and Employment: A Secondary Analysis of Program Components

Through secondary analyses of quantitative data obtained from the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) National Coordinating Center database from the first cohort (2010-2015) of model demonstration sites in Florida, this study examined components of the postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disabilities that are correlated with employment upon program exit. This study adds to the emergent knowledge base on inclusive higher education by identifying the programmatic components of the postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disability most correlated with successful transition from college to employment. This information can be used to inform program development and refinement to foster employment upon exit, a worthy outcome that leads to greater quality of life. The academic access program component of inclusive coursework was found to have the strongest correlation with the post-school outcome of paid, competitive employment upon exit. This program component aligns with the established predictors of post-school success for students with disabilities (Mazzotti et al., 2016) and employment for people with intellectual disabilities (Southward & Kyzar, 2017). Areas of agreement are discussed as well as implications for a number of stakeholders

Intellectual Disability and Postsecondary Education

In an era of curricular changes, experiments, and high-stakes testing, educational measurement and evaluation are more important than ever. In addition to expected entries covering the basics of traditional theories and methods, The SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation also covers important sociopolitical issues and trends influencing the future of that research and practice. Textbooks, handbooks, monographs, and other publications focus on various aspects of educational research, measurement, and evaluation, but to date, there exists no major reference guide for students new to the field. This comprehensive work fills that gap, covering traditional areas while pointing the way to future developments

Examining the Status of Transition-Focused Content Within Educator Preparation Programs

Almost two decades since the last study of how educator preparation programs (EPPs) offer transition-related content to preservice teachers, this study sought to understand if the educator preparation landscape has changed. Given the impact of well-prepared secondary educators on student transition outcomes, reexamining the status of transition-related content within teacher education was warranted. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to query a national sample of EPPs regarding the specific transition content provided and methods for conveying transition content to preservice teacher education students. Results indicated that small changes have occurred over time, with most programs reporting positive perspectives regarding the level of preparation among program graduates. However, the capacity of EPPs to offer high quality and evidence-based transition content appears to be inconsistent. This study emphasizes the need for future research, as well as improved practice within EPPs

Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs of Study for Students with Intellectual Disability

Researchers explored 11 of Florida\u27s inclusive postsecondary education programs (IPSE) for individuals with intellectual disability (ID), during the 2016 and 2017 academic years. The researchers sought to explore, through ethnographic inquiry, the nature of academic access as well as the programs of study available to students with ID within Florida\u27s IPSE programs. Researchers found the majority (73%; n=8) of IPSE programs in this study (n=11) housed at three universities, three community and state colleges, and two career technical colleges. These eight institutions provided inclusive programs of study where students were enrolled in two or more academically inclusive courses each semester. Three programs of study types emerged from the qualitative data: Liberal Arts, Career Technical, and Transitional. Each program of study type is described as well as the IPSE programs encompassed within each. Beyond student presence in college courses, data elements examined in this study include course progressions, availability of choice of study, service learning, co-curricular requirements and the diversity in and similarities between the three programs of study types. Researchers point to the need for further exploration of the diversity of IPSE programs, the need to operationalize and examine specific elements within IPSE programs, and the impact of credentials offered upon program of study

Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs of Study for Students with Intellectual Disability

Researchers explored 11 of Florida\u27s inclusive postsecondary education programs (IPSE) for individuals with intellectual disability (ID), during the 2016 and 2017 academic years. The researchers sought to explore, through ethnographic inquiry, the nature of academic access as well as the programs of study available to students with ID within Florida\u27s IPSE programs. Researchers found the majority (73%; n=8) of IPSE programs in this study (n=11) housed at three universities, three community and state colleges, and two career technical colleges. These eight institutions provided inclusive programs of study where students were enrolled in two or more academically inclusive courses each semester. Three programs of study types emerged from the qualitative data: Liberal Arts, Career Technical, and Transitional. Each program of study type is described as well as the IPSE programs encompassed within each. Beyond student presence in college courses, data elements examined in this study include course progressions, availability of choice of study, service learning, co-curricular requirements and the diversity in and similarities between the three programs of study types. Researchers point to the need for further exploration of the diversity of IPSE programs, the need to operationalize and examine specific elements within IPSE programs, and the impact of credentials offered upon program of study

Florida Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) Credential Guidance Brief Series

The Florida Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) Credential Guidance Brief Series is comprised of a set of six stand-alone briefs developed by the Florida Consortium on Inclusive Higher Education(FCIHE) and a small workgroup,in consultation with a statewide steering committee. These briefs were written to provide guidance to Florida stakeholders regardingcredential developmentforInclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) programsfor students with intellectual disability (ID)