Approximately 72% of Post-School Survey respondents were considered "engaged" in either Higher Education, Competitive Employment, Other Education/ Training, or Other Employment.
Nearly 28% of survey respondents did not meet reporting requirements for any of the engagement categories.
The annual Post-School Survey is conducted with former students one year after they've permanently exited high school and who were receiving special education services at the time of exit.
Survey responses were recorded for 77.1% of the 8,908 eligible former students. Survey responders can be either the former students themselves or a designated family member.
Source: CCTS Indicator B14 Post-School Outcome Report, 2018-19 - PDF. (2021, January 20). Seattle: Center for Change in Transition Services.
Post-school outcome (PSO) data provide a picture of life after high school for former special education students in relation to postsecondary education and employment. Positive post-school outcomes involve some level of “engagement” after high school, meaning that former students are continuing their education or have secured employment. PSO data are collected not only for state and federal reporting, but for continuous programmatic improvement.
School staff and other stakeholders use PSO data to inform practice around transition services including instruction, development of transition plans, activities, and agency collaboration. The goal is to increase engagement outcomes and decrease non-engagement.
PSO data are also tied to the Local Education Agency (LEA) Application for Federal Funds for Special Education. School districts must develop a plan to maintain or improve PSO in their application.
To gather PSO data, school districts conduct a phone survey each year, reaching out to former students one year after they exited high school. CCTS offers technical support to school districts as they conduct the Post-School Survey, and provides state and district-level data reports after the survey closes.