Project Expectations
for New Sites
Project 10 CONNECT Interagency Councils
New Site Training
This training was developed by the Project 10: Transition Education Network, a special project funded by the Florida Department of Education,
Division of Public Schools, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, through federal assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA), Part B.
Objectives
After this presentation, participants will be able to:
 Describe expectations for new Project 10 CONNECT
interagency council sites
 Delineate methods for determining current status and
needs in secondary transition
 Identify basic components of action planning
 List ways to disseminate information to stakeholders
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Project Expectations
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Project Expectations
 Form or revitalize an interagency council for transition
 Consider how the team will involve individuals with
disabilities and their families as an integral part of the
team
 Conduct focus groups to identify barriers to transition
• Interim report on focus group due within first year
• Final report on focus group results by end of year one
 Use focus group results to guide development of action
plan
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Project Expectations
 Develop an action plan within first year
• Submitted with application
 Develop an interagency agreement within first two years
 Expand implementation of effective transition practices and
range of services
 Attend project meetings
 Submit reports to the project
• End of year report
• End of year budget report/summary
• Oral reports at Project 10 Regional Institutes
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Current Status and Needs
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Determine Current Status and
Needs in Secondary Transition
 It is essential that the team  This information must come
collect detailed information
from stakeholders, including
and data about the current
• Students
status of secondary
• Families
transition in the local area
• Educators
and the needs that are
present.
• Service providers
• Data-driven decision
• Community members
making that is based on
needs
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Data Collection
Sample sources of data include:
 Current school districts or agency data
 Focus groups
 Questionnaires
 Team developed plans, records or reports
It is important to remember that data collection is an ongoing process, continues throughout
the life of the interagency council, and provides a basis for evaluating progress.
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Data Collected from
School Districts or Agencies
 Information reported to Florida Department of Education
 Florida Education Training and Placement Information
Program (FETPIP)
 Agency information such as
• Number of referrals
• Number of students eligible and receiving services
• Number employed or trained
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Focus Groups
Focus groups are small, carefully organized,
non-threatening groups designed to obtain information and
opinions from relevant stakeholders on a specific topic.
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Focus Group Characteristics






Small (6–10 people)
Moderator
Recorder
Specific timelines
Predetermined questions
Relaxed, non-threatening
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Focus Group Data Analysis
and Reporting
The data is:
 Gathered through focus group
 Analyzed by small team
 Organized by theme
 Summarized in report
 Disseminated to all team members
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Questionnaires
 Questionnaires are effective tools for getting information
from individuals or groups
 Questionnaires need to be specific to the needs of the
team
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Action Planning
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Action Plan
An action plan or work plan is used to:
 Establish priorities
 Provide a written record of goals and objectives
 Keep team focused
 Help team measure progress
 Help team celebrate its accomplishments
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Action Plan Components




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Measurable goals and objectives
Persons responsible
Timelines for completion
Resource needs
Evaluation methods
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Dissemination of Secondary
Transition Information
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Dissemination of Secondary
Transition Information





Brochures, pamphlets, or information guides
DVDs
Websites
Agency forums, tours, or fairs
Additional Resources
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Brochures, Pamphlets,
Informational Guides
 A well developed brochure, pamphlet, or informational
guide can be very helpful to a parent who is trying to
learn more about agency services or transition in
general.
 Remember to keep your audience in mind when
developing these items. Keep them simple and to the
point.
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Video/DVDs
 Developing a video/DVD requires time and a lot of
effort due to the development, editing, graphic
design, sound and/or close captioning that must be
done.
 Private companies, community colleges, or high
school production labs are some ideal groups to
help you with the production of any videos.
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Websites
 Great dissemination tools
 Can be hyperlink to other websites
for schools, agencies, other
community organizations, or other
interagency teams
 Teams can hire web masters to
help with the production of a
website that fits their needs
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Transition Events
 Examples include interagency, career and
transition fairs
 Showcasing agency services is effective in
providing information about the agencies to variety
of audiences.
 Be aware of the time and date of any showcase to
maximize attendance.
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Additional Methods
of Dissemination
Additional methods for sharing information include:
 Local newspapers
 Radio or television stations
 School newsletters
 Social networking
 Sign boards at local schools, agencies or businesses
 Plaques or framed certificates of membership or of
recognition
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Reaching Your Stakeholders
Stakeholders include:
 Students with disabilities, parents, and families
 Educators
 Agencies and service providers
 Local businesses and community organizations
 Postsecondary education
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Reaching Students with
Disabilities, Parents and Families
 Families can be difficult to reach
• Direct contact
• Focused activities, especially involving students
• Parent groups
• Word of mouth
 Informational materials must be user friendly and easily
accessible
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Reaching Educators
 Educators have many demands on their time. In order to
reach them, multiple material or presentations formats
must be easily accessible.
 School-based transition teams can assist in the
organization and presentation of critical information on
transition.
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Reaching Area Agencies
 Make service providers aware of the interagency team
 Provide focused materials and activities
 Direct contact from team members
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Reaching Local Businesses
Several ways business or community organizations can
get involved in student’s transition from school to adult life
include:
 Become a mentor or sponsor
 Create opportunities for work experience
 Provide employability skills and interview experiences
 Offer “job shadowing”
 Provide volunteer opportunities
 Volunteer as a speaker in the schools
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Summary
 New Project 10 CONNECT interagency council site
expectations
 Methods for determining current status and needs in
secondary transition
 Begin action planning
 Provide information to stakeholders
Your Project 10 Regional Transition
Representative will provide training, technical
assistance and resources throughout the
process of developing a Project 10 CONNECT
Interagency Transition Team.
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Questions and
Thank You!
Questions, concerns, or
recommendations?
Thank you for your
attendance and input
today!
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Presenter
Contact Information
(RTR Name)
Project 10:
Transition Education
Network
Region ( ) Transition
Representative
Email:
Office:
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Updated May 2014