“It's not just CTE. And it's not just Special Ed. When we come at it from that angle, we end up naturally collaborating on everything.”

Kim Berhow, Assistant Director College and CTE, Evergreen School District (CCTS, 2020)

SE, CTE, and Post-School Outcomes

Students with disabilities have lower on-time graduation rates, postsecondary education enrollment rates, and employment rates, compared to those without disabilities. However, research shows that CTE participation can improve college and career readiness outcomes.

Theobald (2019) found that students with disabilities who took four CTE classes in high school had reduced absenteeism, improved graduation rates, and were more likely to be employed after graduation. View more statistics about SE and CTE or download Theobald’s full report: CTE, Inclusion, and Postsecondary Outcomes for Students with Disabilities.

3% fewer unexcused absences, 5% more likely to graduate on-time, 20% more likely to be employed after graduation

Contributions from Special Educators for CTE

Special Educators have expertise and knowledge that can enhance, support, and improve student learning for all students. These include:

Accommodations and modifications
Student-Centered instruction
Ability to reflect on and adapt instruction
Tiers of intervention
Student management plans
Progress data

Next: Voices from the Field – SE and CTE Partnerships