M a r y l an d A s s o ciatio n of Nonpublic Special Edu c a t i on Fa c i l i t i es
Connect Inspiring Dreams, Changing Lives
Serving public school students with disabilities
Post-Secondary Longitudinal Outcomes Study: Successful Outcomes for Young Adults With Emotional Behavioral Disorders Transitioning from a MANSEF School Placement In summary, two years after leaving MANSEF facilities and compared with other youth with disabilities (NLTS2), MANSEF youth with EBD were more engaged in positive transition activities (higher education, work, job training). The Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) has funded a study tracking the post-secondary experiences of their youth two years after graduating from a MANSEF school placement. 18 schools participated in the study. Graduates from the years 2006-07 and 2007-08 were eligible for participation with parent/guardian consent. A total of 154 students and their families agreed to participate in annual telephone interviews over the course of this study. To prevent bias, trained interviewers from SUNY-Potsdam contacted and interviewed the participants and recorded the data. The data were compiled and analyzed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Education. This research has been modeled after a national study -- the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLTS2) -- funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. The similarity of design has permitted comparisons between national outcomes of students with disabilities Adam R ussell (M (NLTS2) and MANSEF youth two years after leaving high school. This CPS stu graduatio dent) n from n onpublic summary report presents results and comparisons for students with school Emotional Behavioral Disturbance (EBD) for the selected areas of Engagement and Employment, Post-Secondary Education, Emerging Independence, Social Involvement & Citizenship, and other findings. It is important to note that EBD youth served by MANSEF facilities are considered to have more severe disabilities than the youth with EBD served by public schools who participated in the NLTS2 study. MANSEF students are referred by their local public school systems if the student is unable to be successfully served within the student’s Results at a Glance... local public school. MANSEF
NLTS2
Employed at Year 1
53%
27%
Employed at Year 2
56%
36%
Engaged in Post Secondary Experience
55%
21%
Enrolled in 4-year College
11%
4%
Enrolled in 2-year College
38%
12%
Living at Home Year 1
74%
84%
Living at Home Year 2
53%
65%
Involved in Criminal Justice System
16%
58%
Registered to Vote
41%
52%
We have been very interested in the postsecondary outcomes of MANSEF youth with EBD beginning the transition into adulthood. Tracking participants for two years after exiting their school placement, 91 percent of MANSEF youth with EBD reported some form of engagement compared with 66 percent of students with EBD in NLTS2. Higher percentages of MANSEF EBD youth were only attending post-secondary education facilities (10 percent), and working while attending post-secondary facilities (36 percent) compared to NLTS2 (1 percent and 18 percent, respectively). More than 50 percent of MANSEF youth with EBD reported being employed at Year 1
(53 percent compared with 27 percent of youth with EBD NLTS2) and also at Year 2 (56 percent compared with 36 percent NLTS2). In terms of post-secondary education, 55 percent of MANSEF youth with EBD had been engaged in a post-secondary experience compared to 21 percent of NLTS2 youth with EBD. More MANSEF youth with EBD were attending higher education classes; 11 percent of MANSEF youth with EBD had been enrolled in a 4-year college (compared to 4 percent NLTS2) and 38 percent of MANSEF youth had been enrolled in a 2-year college compared to 12 percent NLTS2 with EBD. Adult independence has been a concern for students with disabilities. Indicators of emerging independence show that a lower proportion of MANSEF (74 percent Year 1 and 58 percent Year 2) youth lived at home with parents/guardians/family members compared with NLTS2 (84 percent Year 1 and 65 percent Year 2). Proportions were similar at the end of Year 2 for youth living independently/roommate (17 percent MANSEF and 16 percent NLTS2). Also by the end of Year 2, more MANSEF youth with EBD were single (94 percent compared to 84 percent NLTS2) and childless (98 percent compared to 89 percent NLTS2). Fewer MANSEF youth with EBD were involved with the criminal justice system (16 percent compared to NLTS2 58 percent) two years out of high school. Indicators of citizenship found that 41 percent of MANSEF youth were registered to vote, lower than NLTS2 (52 percent). MANSEF youth with EBD also reported reduced involvement with community groups and clubs two years out of school (17 percent compared with 28 percent NLTS2). Another indicator of interest to this population was psychiatric hospitalizations. Prior to attending a MANSEF school, 65 percent of youth had one to nine psychiatric hospitalizations; while they attended a MANSEF facility, only 16 percent of youth had one or more psychiatric hospitalizations. This dramatic decrease in costly hospitalizations attests to the supportive and therapeutic nature of MANSEF facilities necessary for the successful treatment and stabilization of mental health issues of youth with severe emotional disabilities who cannot be properly treated in public school settings. MANSEF youth with EBD were: • employed at higher rates, • attending higher education classes in greater numbers, and • attending classes and working in greater numbers In addition, this study found that: • fewer were living with parents/guardians, • more were single and childless, and • fewer had been involved with the criminal justice system
December 2012
For more information about schools for students with special needs visit our website at www.mansef.org
M a r y l a n d A s s o ciatio n of Nonpublic Special Edu c a t i on Fa c i l i t i es
Connect Inspiring Dreams, Changing Lives
Serving public school students with disabilities
Post-Secondary Longitudinal Outcomes Study: Successful Outcomes for Young Adults Transitioning from a MANSEF School Placement The Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) has funded a study tracking the post-secondary experiences of their youth two years after graduating from a MANSEF school placement. 18 schools participated in the study. Graduates from the years 2006-07 and 2007-08 were eligible for participation with parent/guardian consent. A total of 210 students and their families agreed to participate in annual telephone interviews over the course of this study. To prevent bias, trained interviewers from SUNY-Potsdam contacted and interviewed the participants and recorded the data. The data were compiled and analyzed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Education. This research has been modeled after a national study -- the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLTS2) -- funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. The similarity of design has permitted comparisons between nationally published outcomes of students with disabilities (NLTS2) and MANSEF youth two years after leaving high school. This summary report presents results and comparisons for the selected areas of Engagement and Employment, Post-Secondary Education, Emerging Independence, Social Involvement & Citizenship, and other findings. It is important to note that youth served by MANSEF facilities are considered to have more severe disabilities than the youth with disabilities served by public schools who participated in the NLTS2 study. MANSEF students are referred by their local public school systems if the student is unable to be successfully served within the student’s local public school.
Arriel D unham (B CPS stu graduatio dent) n from n onpublic school
We have been very interested in the postsecondary outcomes of MANSEF youth beginning the transition into adulthood. Tracking participants for two years after exiting their school placement, 92 percent of MANSEF youth reported some form of engagement compared with 79 percent Results at a Glance... of NLTS2. Higher percentages of MANSEF youth were only MANSEF NLTS2 attending post-secondary education facilities (13 percent) Employed at Year 1 52% 32% compared to NLTS2 at only 4 percent. Additionally, more MANSEF alumni were working while attending post-secondary Employed at Year 2 43% 53% facilities (36 percent) compared to NLTS2 (21 percent). More Engaged in Post than 50 percent of MANSEF youth reported being employed at Secondary Experience 57% 31% Year 1 (52 percent compared with 32 percent NLTS2) and also Enrolled in 4-year at Year 2 (53 percent compared with 43 percent NLTS2). College 13% 9% Enrolled in 2-year College
38%
20%
Living at Home Year 1
77%
91%
Living at Home Year 2
63%
72%
Involved in Criminal Justice System
13%
29%
Registered to Vote
41%
62%
In terms of post-secondary education, 57 percent of MANSEF youth had been engaged in a post-secondary experience compared to 31 percent of NLTS2 youth over two years. More MANSEF youth were attending higher education classes; 13
percent of MANSEF had been enrolled in a 4-year college compared to 9 percent NLTS2 and 38 percent of MANSEF youth had been enrolled in a 2-year college compared to 20 percent NLTS2. Adult independence has been a concern for students with disabilities. Indicators of emerging independence show that a lower proportion of MANSEF (77 percent Year 1 and 63 percent Year 2) youth lived at home with parents/guardians compared with NLTS2 (91 percent Year 1 and 72 percent Year 2). Proportions were similar at the end of Year 2 for youth living independently/ roommate (13 percent MANSEF and 15 percent NLTS2). Also by the end of Year 2, more MANSEF youth with disabilities were single (96 percent compared to 88 percent NLTS2) and childless (98 percent compared to 92 percent NLTS2). Fewer MANSEF youth were involved with the criminal justice system (13 percent compared to NLTS2 29 percent) two years out of high school. Indicators of community integration found that 41 percent of MANSEF youth were registered to vote, lower than NLTS2 which was estimated at more than 62 percent. MANSEF youth also reported reduced involvement with community groups and clubs two years out of school (19 percent compared with 28 percent NLTS2). Another indicator of interest to this population was psychiatric hospitalizations. Prior to attending a MANSEF school, 53 percent of youth had one to nine psychiatric hospitalizations; while they attended a MANSEF facility, only 15 percent of youth had one or more psychiatric hospitalizations. This dramatic decrease in costly hospitalizations attests to the supportive and therapeutic nature of MANSEF facilities necessary for the treatment and stabilization of youth with mental health issues who cannot be properly treated in public school settings. In summary, two years after leaving MANSEF facilities and compared with other youth disabilities (NLTS2), MANSEF youth were more engaged in positive transition activities (higher education, work, job training). MANSEF youth with were: • employed at higher rates, • attending higher education classes in greater numbers, and • attending classes and working in greater numbers In addition, this study found that: • fewer were living with parents/guardians, • more were single and childless, and • fewer had been involved with the criminal justice system
December 2012
For more information about schools for students with special needs visit our website at www.mansef.org