Post-School Outcomes

Post-School Outcomes for Students with Disabilities, Washington state, 2021-22

Post-School Survey

The annual Post-School Survey is conducted with all former students who permanently exited high school and who were receiving special education services at the time of exit. The survey gathers information about work and school activities that took place within the first year of exiting high school, whether they graduated, dropped out, or were expected to return but did not.

72.86%
Any Engagement
27.14%
No Engagement
Engagement Outcomes

Any Engagement refers to respondents who met reporting requirements for one of the four engagement outcomes: Higher Education, Competitive Employment, Other Education, or Other Employment. No Engagement refers to respondents who did not meet reporting requirements for any engagement outcomes. 

17.40%
Higher Education

At any time in the year since leaving high school, 17.40% of respondents were enrolled full- or part-time in a community college (two-year institution/program) or college/university (four- or more year institution/program) for at least one complete term.

40.95%
Competitive Employment

At any time in the year since leaving high school, 40.95% of respondents worked for pay (at or above the minimum wage) in a setting with others who are nondisabled, for a period of 20 hours a week or more, for at least 90 days.

3.88%
Other Education

At any time in the year since leaving high school, 3.88% of respondents enrolled full- or-part-time for at least one complete term in an education or training program which is less than a two-year program (e.g., Job Corps, adult education, workforce development program, or vocational technical school).

10.63%
Other Employment

At any time in the year since leaving high school, 10.63% of respondents worked for pay or were self-employed for a period of at least 90 days, but they worked for less than 20 hours per week and/or less than minimum wage.

77.93%
Survey Response Rate

Survey responses were recorded for 6,522 of the 8,369 eligible former students (77.93%). Survey responses come directly from former students or designated family members. 

View Full Report for Details

CCTS Indicator B14 Post-School Outcome Report, 2021-22 - PDF. (2024, January 19). Seattle: Center for Change in Transition Services.

Report includes statewide outcomes by exit, gender, race/ethnicity, disability, and language proficiency categories.

What are post-school outcome data?

Post-school outcome (PSO) data provide a picture of life after high school for all former special education students in relation to postsecondary education and employment. PSO data are collected not only for state and federal reporting, but for continuous programmatic improvement.

How can PSO data inform practice?

School staff and other stakeholders use PSO data to inform practice around transition services including instruction, development of transition plans, activities, and agency collaboration. The goal is to increase engagement outcomes and decrease non-engagement.

PSO data are also tied to the Local Education Agency (LEA) Application for Federal Funds for Special Education. School districts must develop a plan to maintain or improve PSO in their application.

How are PSO data collected?

To gather PSO data from all former students who were receiving special education services at the time they exited high school, school districts conduct a phone survey each year. CCTS offers technical support to school districts as they conduct the Post-School Survey, and provides state and district-level data reports after the survey closes.

Additional Resources

 

Page last updated
April 8, 2024