Postschool Status of Youths with Behavioral Disorders

Abstract

This 5-year longitudinal study investigated post-high-school employment, postsecondary school degree attainment, and engagement outcomes for youths with behavioral disorders (BD). Subjects included graduates with BD and a random stratified sample of their typically functioning peers from three school districts in western Washington State. The study tracked two cohorts, 1985 and 1990 graduates, with annual data collection from 1990 to 1995. The data reflected what was happening in the lives of these youths, who had been out of school from 1 to 5 years and from 6 to 10 years. Outcomes are compared for the youths with BD and for their peers without disabilities. Employment rates for the graduates with BD were significantly lower at only 2 of 10 data collection points. Engagement rates were significantly lower at 6 of the 10 points. Rates of postsecondary degree attainment at the end of the study were significantly lower for the graduates with BD in both cohorts.