REL Mid-Atlantic is partnering with the Maryland Department of Disabilities to develop a transition linkage tool that will assist government agencies, school systems, and families in coordinating and tracking services for students with disabilities. By streamlining all data collected during the lifecycle of an Individualized Education Program and beyond, the tool will improve service coordination and help connect students to career readiness and post-school career services and post-secondary education opportunities. A pilot program to test the functionality of the tool and use case for Maryland agencies and school systems will also include training and coaching provided by the REL to prepare for, and learn from, implementation.
Partnership organizations: Maryland Department of Disabilities, Center for Transition and Career Innovation at the University of Maryland, Maryland State Department of Education, Charles County Public Schools, Region 4 Comprehensive Center
Current Projects
This partnership is a collaborative effort that is starting with work led by the Region 4 Comprehensive Center (CC). The Region 4 CC is leading the first project which supports partners in developing a universal consent form for students and families, data sharing agreements between schools and state agencies, and a data linkage tool to support more transparent and efficient data sharing, increased service referrals and receipt, and ultimately better transition outcomes for youth with disabilities after high school. REL Mid-Atlantic is participating in the project meetings to help inform the tool development with evidence-based practices for successful transitions for students with disabilities, and to help inform development of the training and coaching that will occur through a pilot program in the next phase of this work. REL Mid-Atlantic will lead the next phase of work and train transition staff at MSDE Division of Rehabilitation Services and Charles County Public Schools on inputting and accessing data through the tool and on using it to make data-informed decisions that support positive outcomes for students with disabilities. We will also prepare staff to speak with students and families about the tool and participating in the pilot program. After the tool is developed and all parties have been trained to use it, the REL will provide coaching to Charles County Public Schools and other Maryland partners as they pilot the tool during the 2024/25 and 2025/26 school years and learn from its implementation.
Completed Projects
No completed projects at this time.