Reports: Profiles: for Washington

Washington's web-based data collection/reporting sites:
    Post-School Outcome survey, reports, TA (http://www.seattleu.edu/ccts)
    SPP / APR (http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/data.aspx)

• Data on youth who had IEPs was collected.
• Data on youth without disabilities was not collected.
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1. Do students have unique identifiers?
Yes

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1a. What is used (e.g., SSN, student number)?


State Student Identification Number (SSID #)

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2. What is the organizational structure of the state’s post-school outcomes data collection system?
the state contracts with a university organization to assist in the system

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3. If the SEA contracts with another agency to collect data, what is the annual amount paid for that work?
unanswered
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4. Are you collecting data from …
a census of all school leavers on IEPs in your state?

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4a. How do you determine if the respondents are representative of all the school leavers?


N/A

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4b. Briefly describe how your state attempts to increase the response rate (including dropouts).


The Center disseminates information on the reporting requirements via our website as well as directly to special education directors, teachers, and the special education community through email, presentations, and telephone contact. We have developed a suggested timeline for collecting data on all leavers for 2007 in the hopes this will help districts devise a system for tracking their dropouts - which in turn will make it easier for them to reach their dropouts in 2008. We share this data at the ESD Special Education Director's meetings (we have 9 Educational Service Districts). We also disseminate this information at Transition Specialist Network Meetings (through the Puget Sound ESD). We have developed a form and process in examining the data for program improvement.

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5. Which school leaver groups of students with IEPs are included? (NOTE THAT TO MAKE THIS SURVEY APPLICABLE TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE WE HAVE GROUPED SCHOOL LEAVERS INTO MAJOR AND GENERAL CATEGORIES. IF YOUR STATE USES DIFFERENT LABELS OR GROUPS, PLEASE PLACE THOSE INTO THESE CATEGORIES THAT FIT CLOSEST TO YOUR SEA’S DEFINITIONS WHEN RESPONDING.)
those who graduated with regular diplomas
those who aged-out
those who dropped-out

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6. What data are gathered from or about a student with an IEP before he or she leaves school?
Information for post-school contacts
Student demographics
Postsecondary IEP goals

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7. What data are gathered from or about a student after he or she leaves school?
Post high-school employment experiences
Postsecondary educational experiences
Housing or independent living experiences
Other

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7a. describe briefly


If the student had an agency connection, information on health insurance

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8. How are post-school data gathered?
Phone survey/interview former student
Phone survey/interview family member
Interview conducted by teachers from school districts participating in the data collection
Interview conducted by school personnel other than teachers from school districts participating in the data collection

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9. Are former students or their family members compensated for responding to the post school survey?
no

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10. When are these data collected?
other

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10b. please specify


6-9 months after leaving

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11. How frequently were post-school data gathered for each student?
Once only

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12. How were data reported?
at the state level
at the district level
at the school level

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13. Are results reported by:
Gender
Ethnicity
Disability type
School leaver status
Age

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14. Are results used to:
Focus program improvements
Identify in-service training
Prioritize technical assistance
Report to state legislature
Other

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14a. please specify


State agencies like DDD, DVR, and WorkSource (employment security) use the post-school outcome data to inform program improvements.

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15. List the stakeholder groups that participated in the development of your data collection system.


SEA, LEA, higher education, adult agencies, parent advocacy groups

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16. What challenges have you faced regarding sharing information with other state agencies?


Involving, informing, and getting the interest of the directors and executive directors of state agencies. Once this has happened however, we have been able to maintain a great working relationship with them.

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17. Do you make any connections among Indicators 1, 2, 13, and 14?
yes

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17a. Please describe briefly.


Connections are made at the state level working with OSPI on the SPP, as well as making the connections among the indicators during training and TA with LEA's. Connections will continue to strengthen with the addition of collecting data on dropouts and transition services in schools. We are also working closely with the monitors from OSPI to further connections between these four indicators.

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18. Does your state use NPSO products or services to assist the state in training or working with LEAs to gather post-school outcome data?
yes

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18a. Which products/services do you use or plan to use?
Website (www.psocenter.org)
Community of Practice teleconferences or listserv
Data Collection
Other Tools & Products (e.g. PACER, NASDSE, Westat)
SPP/APR Checklists

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19. Any additional comments you would like to include in your state profile?


Washington State has collected post-school data for over 20 years. Statewide involvement has been a major goal for the past 10 years and the number of districts participating has increased from 13% to over 90%.