Don't overlook special ed students in college, career readiness

When preparing students in K-12 special education programs for the transition from high school to careers or higher education, it must be done in a way in which students won’t notice the upheaval in their lives — which can be achieved via internships or coursework at a community college, David Test, a professor of special education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, tells District Administration.​Students are now more involved in planning their individualized education programs (IEPs) so the post-graduation transition mirrors their interests and goals, and administrators are working more closely with outside employers to ensure a smoother entry to life after graduation.The 2008 recession took a toll on these transitional programs, but funding has finally rebounded, with some examples including a partnership between Boston Public Schools and Roxbury Community College called "Knowledge. Enrichment. Engagement.," which teaches soft skills like time management that can be particularly difficult for students with special needs. Another program, at Cleveland County Schools in North Carolina, provides coursework that includes all the requirements needed to obtain a high school diploma in that state, along with soft skills training.