State Performance Plan 2005-2012 - Part B - Arkansas Department Of Education (Page 176 of 277) in pdf

State Performance Plan 2005-2012 - Part B - Arkansas Department Of Education Page 176

Arkansas Department of Education Special Education Unit

Part B State Performance Plan

determination. will become a rich resource for offering practical guidance on

strategies for staying in school and making the most of the secondary educational experience.

In addition to developing school-centered strategies begun in 2005-06, the State intends to

FFY 2006

apply through the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices for the Academy on Improving

Outcomes for Young Adults with Disabilities. Through the Academy, substantial gaps and overlaps in

agency programs, particularly in relation to service needs, services provided, and cross-agency performance

standards will be addressed.

It is clear that youth with IEPs are underutilizing core services available in the state and that graduation and

dropout indicators will improve if this can be effectively addressed. At the State-level, Arkansas needs to

identify and braid individual funding streams targeted to serving these youth. There is no blueprint to guide

local areas that are ready, willing, and able to begin co-locating and integrating services.

One of the products of this activity will be the development of a State Resource Map for identified agencies

serving Arkansas youth between the ages of 14 and 30. For a student to graduate and to have a good

experience in the world of work, the amount and type of preparation that leads to employment can make the

difference between success and failure. The changing nature of the job market makes employment more

difficult to obtain without specific skills. There are many resources available to students, teachers,

counselors and transition coordinators to aid in the postsecondary and career planning process. The problem

is that the resources lack integration and are often not user-friendly. Through the Academy, Arkansas hopes

to create a comprehensive, integrated and self-directed tool for the student that interfaces aptitudes as

determined from test scores and grades, interests, and skills with current Labor Market Information and

Occupational Trends. By matching individual skills and aptitudes with career educational and skill

requirements, youth with IEPs will identify realistic career goals, including entry into postsecondary

educational settings.

The CIRCUIT service request process will be expanded to offer earlier interventions for students at risk of

dropping out. The expansion will include the use of the P.O.I.S.E. team as an intervention for students prior

to age 14. will expand to offer greater interactivity between state-level and local

education and employment personnel.

In an effort to improve post-school outcomes for students with disabilities in Arkansas, the ADE-SEU,

provides funding to support the employment of a cadre of Special Education Transition Specialists to serve

local education agencies throughout the State. These individuals are working to develop local transition

teams for children with disabilities. Around the nation, there is continued emphasis on the importance of

interagency collaboration to improve outcomes for youth with IEPs. Research shows that the better the

collaboration at the local and state levels, the better the outcomes for youth with IEPs.

The key to effective collaboration is building and maintaining relationships. On the local level, schools need

to build relationships with public and private agencies, local service providers, business and industry, and

other community members. The development and use of local transition teams by school districts is a major

building block in establishing the relationships. Local transition teams can improve post-school outcomes

for students by providing the following:

- More opportunities for work experience within the community;

- More effective transition from school to adult life (fewer students fall through the cracks);

- More services for students; and

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State Performance Plan 2005-2012 - Part B - Arkansas Department Of Education Page 176

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