Developing Pre-Service Teachers’ Skills in Post-Secondary Transition Through Applied Practice

Abstract

The need for special educators who can support students with disabilities in the transition to adulthood is well documented in the literature. In this article, we will report on the program improvement efforts by one university to embed more evidence-based transition practices into their pre-service teacher preparation program with the support of a state personnel development grant. Key aspects of the program revision will be outlined and accompanied by online resources for faculty to utilize when seeking to improve their special education preparation program in the area of post-secondary transition. The pre-service teachers’ perceptions of the impact of the revision are included in the discussion; along with suggestions for future directions, research, and work in rural areas.

Keywords

transition planning personnel preparation rural special education

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Benitez

D. T.

Morningstar

M. E.

Frey

B. B.

(2009). A multistate survey of special education teachers’ perceptions of their transition competencies. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 32(1), 6–16.

Coffey

A. J.

Atkinson

P. A.

(1996). Making sense of qualitative data: Complementary research strategies (1st ed.). SAGE.

Darling-Hammond

Richardson

(2009). Research review/teacher learning: What matters. Educational Leadership, 66(5), 46–53.

Kohler

P. D.

(1996). A taxonomy for transition programming: Linking research and practice. Transition Research Institute, University of Illinois.

Kohler

P. D.

Field

(2003). Transition-focused education: Foundation for the future. The Journal of Special Education, 37(3), 174–183.

Kohler

P. D.

Gothberg

J. E.

Fowler

Coyle

(2016). Taxonomy for transition programming 2.0: A model for planning, organizing, and evaluating transition education, services, and programs. Western Michigan University.

Miles

M. B.

Huberman

A. M.

Saldaña

(2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook. SAGE.

Morningstar

M. E.

Benitez

D. T.

(2013). Teacher training matters: The results of a multistate survey of secondary special educators regarding transition from school to adulthood. Teacher Education and Special Education, 36, 51–64.

Morningstar

M. E.

Clavenna-Deane

(2014). Preparing secondary special educators and transition specialists. In Sindelar

McCray

Brownell

Kraft

(Eds.), Handbook of research on special education teacher preparation (pp. 405–419). Routledge.

10.

Morningstar

M. E.

Hirano

K. A.

Roberts-Dalm

L. D.

Teo

Klienhammer-Tramil

P. J.

(2018). Examining the status of transition-focused content within educator preparation programs. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 41(1), 4–15.

11.

Next Steps New Hampshire. (2018). Next Steps New Hampshire transition competencies for preservice special education programs.

12.

Next Steps New Hampshire. (2020, May 21). About indicator 13. https://nextsteps-nh.org/transition-iep-requirements/about-indicator-13/

13.

Patton

M. Q.

(2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (3rd ed.). SAGE.

14.

Sanford

Newman

Wagner

Cameto

Knokey

A.-M.

Shaver

(2011). The post-high school outcomes of young adults with disabilities up to 6 years after high school: Key findings from the national longitudinal transition study-2 (NLTS2) (NCSER 2011-3004). Stanford Research Institute International.

15.

Showers

Joyce

(1996). The evolution of peer coaching. Educational Leadership, 53(6), 12–16.

16.

Test

D. W.

Fowler

C. H.

(2018). A look at the past present and future of rural secondary transition. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 37(2), 68–78.

17.

Vandercook

York

Forest

(1989). The McGill Action Planning System (MAPS): A strategy for building the vision. Research and Practices for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 14(3), 205–215.

18.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. (2013). Opening doors to self-determination skills. https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sped/pdf/tranopndrs-self-determination.pdf