Evaluation of Transition Supports for Youth with Disabilities

This study will examine the effectiveness, implementation, and costs of two new strategies for supporting youth with disabilities and their families to prepare for a successful transition from high school to adult life. The first strategy is based on a model of self-determination instruction designed to help students develop skills such as goal setting, decision making, planning and apply those skills to plan and pursue their transition goals. The second strategy not only teaches self-determination skills but also provides individual mentoring to help students engage in and take active steps toward their post-school goals. The study will compare the intermediate and post-school outcomes for approximately 3,000 students who have an individualized education program and are approximately two years from high school graduation. Participating students in up to 100 schools and 16 districts will be randomly assigned to receive one of the study’s strategies or continue with the regular transition supports they receive from their school. This revised information collection request adds instruments to measure outcomes and assess the implementation and cost-effectiveness of each strategy.

The latest form for Evaluation of Transition Supports for Youth with Disabilities expires 2027-09-30 and can be found here.