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Preparing for Life after High School: The Characteristics and Experiences of Youth in Special Education. Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012. Volume 3: Comparisons Over Time

The third report volume from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 (NLTS 2012) presents information on the changes over time in the characteristics and high school experiences of secondary students participating in special education. NLTS 2012 is part of the congressionally-mandated National Assessment of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (IDEA 2004) and is the third longitudinal study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education over several decades focused on youth with an individualized education program (IEP) supported by IDEA. This third volume compares survey data in 1987, 2003, and 2012 from the three NLTS, focusing on 15- to 18-year olds with an IEP overall and in 12 federal disability groups. Where comparable data are available, the volume also examines trends for 19- to 21-year olds who are still enrolled in high school.

Findings from the third volume suggest that, over the past decade (2003–2012), youth with an IEP have become more engaged in school and increased their use of school supports. At the same time, youth with an IEP are less likely than in the past to take some key steps to prepare for their transition to adult life. Among students with an IEP, youth with emotional disturbance and youth with intellectual disability experienced more positive changes over the past decade than youth in other disability groups.

Volume 3: Comparisons Over Time

PDF File View, download, and print the full report Volume 3 as a PDF file (1.7 MB)
PDF File View, download, and print the Volume 3 executive summary as a PDF file (933 KB)
PDF File View, download, and print Volume 3 Chapters 1–6 as a PDF file (1.4 MB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 3 Appendix A (technical appendix) as a PDF file (416 KB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 3 Appendix B–F as a PDF file (1.4 MB)

Previously Released Publications

Two other report volumes were released in March 2017, and focus solely on youth in 2012. Volume 1 compares youth with an IEP to their peers without an IEP, and Volume 2 compares youth with an IEP across the federally defined disability groups.

Volume 1: Comparisons with Other Youth

PDF File View, download, and print the full report Volume 1 as a PDF file (5.1 MB)
PDF File View, download, and print the Volume 1 executive summary as a PDF file (750 KB)
PDF File View, download, and print Volume 1 Chapters 1–6 as a PDF file (2.4 MB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 1 Appendix A (technical appendix) as a PDF file (597 KB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 1 Appendix B as a PDF file (211 KB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 1 Appendix C as a PDF file (511 KB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 1 Appendix D as a PDF file (643 KB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 1 Appendix E as a PDF file (265 KB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 1 Appendix F as a PDF file (371 KB)

Volume 2: Comparisons among Disability Groups

PDF File View, download, and print the full report Volume 2 as a PDF (12.6 MB)
PDF File View, download, and print the Volume 2 executive summary as a PDF (1.1 MB)
PDF File View, download, and print Volume 2 Chapters 1–6 as a PDF file (5.3 MB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 2 Appendix A (technical appendix) as a PDF file (584 KB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 2 Appendix B as a PDF file (795 KB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 2 Appendix C as a PDF file (1.3 MB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 2 Appendix D as a PDF file (1.5 MB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 2 Appendix E as a PDF file (910 KB)
PDF File View download, and print Volume 2 Appendix F as a PDF file (1.3 MB)

PDF File View download, and print NLTS 2012 Design Documentation as a PDF file (7.3 MB)

Restricted-use license for NLTS 2012 Sampling and 2012–2013 Survey data.