Designing Statewide Strategies & Programs

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability For Youth
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There is a lack of buy-in from school
and organization leadership, as
well as from educators responsible
for providing career development
programming.
There is a lack of knowledge of and
appreciation for how self-exploration
and career exploration activities can
inform the transition process for
students with disabilities.
Considerable confusion exists around
how to align transition requirements
under IDEA with state legislated
career development requirements.
The ratio of students to school staff
is increasing.
Implementation Strategies for Developing
Staff Competencies
Engaging in the following activities can assist
states in efforts to build staff capacity to
provide career development programming
through professional development:
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Provide audience-specific
professional development
opportunities (e.g., for school
implementation teams, external
stakeholders and community
agencies, and state-level officials).
Develop in-service training modules
for use by districts, schools, and
professional associations (e.g.
general education, career and
technical education, special
education teachers, counselors)
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focused on 1) using career
development activities in advisory
periods; 2) strategies to be a
successful advisor/advocate across
multiple years; 3) engaging family
members; and 4) strategies to
incorporate career development
materials into course work.
Collaborate with workforce
development agencies and
their professional organizations,
state employer associations,
and postsecondary workforce
development specialists to 1) identify
competencies needed by some
staff members in each school to
support career development work;
and 2) develop training modules
and professional development
opportunities for such staff.
Ensure districts and schools can
access career development materials
through cost effective dissemination
strategies, such as webinars,
teleconferences, and online resource
directories.
Develop grade-by-grade benchmarks
to document competencies students
should acquire, including gradelevel
learning goals and objectives
with a built-in accountability system
that can track and demonstrate
the impact of career development
programs and activities on a range of
important academic and post-high
school indicators.
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