Federal Collection and Reporting

Purpose - to determine how well states are meeting their responsibilities under IDEA Requirement - All states collect data on 17 IDEA indicators, findings reported to OSEP

Every state is required to report on their post-school outcomes to the Office of Special Education Programs.

Positive post-school outcomes are among the 17 performance indicators of IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDEA is a federal statute pertaining to youth and young adults ages 3-21 who receive special education and/or related services.

These reports are designed to help states determine how well they are meeting their responsibilities to students with disabilities, as defined by IDEA. The data in these reports are also used by schools and districts to inform systems-change.

Interrelationship of IDEA Indicators

Four IDEA performance indicators relate to secondary transition.
These indicators also correlate with one another.

Arrow indicating relationship among Indicators B13, B2, B1, and B14

(Kohler, Gothberg, & Hill, "NSTTAC Evaluation Toolkit", 2009)

Of the 17 IDEA indicators, four relate to secondary transition. These four indicators are also tied to the Local Education Agency (LEA) Application for Federal Funds for Special Education.

There’s a critical relationship among these indicators. Research shows that quality IEPs (Indicator B13) lead to more students staying in school (Indicator B2), which leads to higher graduation rates (Indicator B1). Graduation is linked to positive outcomes for students after they’ve left high school (Indicator B14), such as engagement in continued education or employment.

To measure and report on post-school outcomes, Washington conducts the annual Post-School Survey with all their former special education students.

Importance of the Post-School Survey

Reconnect Gain Insights Program Improvement

While the Post-School Survey is a requirement for state and federal reporting, it also offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with former students.

Those who are conducting the survey get to learn about what their former students have been up to in that first year since leaving high school, specifically in the areas of employment and education. The survey is an effective tool for collecting information directly from youth, or from a designated family member who can provide that information.

The survey responses (post-school outcome data) are used by school districts, educational service districts, and the state to evaluate and improve on transition planning for youth with disabilities.

If your district or ESD has questions about how to use post-school outcome data to inform systems change, please email CCTS@seattleu.edu.

Next: Survey Logistics and Eligibility