ERIC Number: ED559238
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 2
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Tip Sheet for SEAs: Engaging Parents and Family Members in Postschool Outcome Stakeholder Groups
National Post-School Outcomes Center
Involving parents and other family representatives in the Indicator B-14 Post-School Outcomes (PSO) Survey activities can help State Education Agencies (SEAs) develop strategies to increase annual response rates, communicate results to stakeholders, and build support for program improvement and systems change. Perspectives expressed by families of transition-age youth with disabilities offer valuable information and a unique consumer viewpoint to State data collection efforts. With firsthand experience, parents and youth know how well in-school experiences prepare youth with disabilities for successful PSO (e.g., enrolling in further education, working). Input from family focus groups, parent advocates, parent centers, and family organizations can help states design more user-friendly, accessible survey tools. These groups can also help the State develop (a) approaches for contacting hard-to-reach youth, and (b) marketing strategies to encourage youth and families to take part in the PSO survey. Parent centers and family organizations can also help SEA personnel organize, disseminate, and use State PSO data with families and other stakeholders at the state and district levels. Parents and family members do not need to be education experts to ask good questions and provide quality input. Informed parents and families can also play a key role as advocates who can identify issues, influence policy decisions, and help improve school programs. This document provides ideas for interviewers to consider when looking at the graduation dropout and PSO data from the state and sample questions to ask parents. Strategies to find parent and family representatives interested in serving on SEA committees related to secondary transition and PSO are also discussed. Tips for retaining parent/family representatives on committees are offered.
Descriptors: State Departments of Education, Disabilities, Parents, Interviews, Surveys, Focus Groups, Stakeholders, Transitional Programs, Outcomes of Education, Family Relationship
National Post-School Outcomes Center. 1268 University of Oregon Suite 360, Eugene, OR 97403. Tel: 541-346-5641; Fax: 541-346-0322; Web site: http://www.psocenter.org
Publication Type: Guides - Non-Classroom; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (ED)
Authoring Institution: National Post-School Outcomes Center; PACER Center
Grant or Contract Numbers: H326U090001