Exit Plans for Students with Disabilities Attending Separate Approved Special Education Programs in the Private Sector

Abstract

The exit plans of 1,632 students from 15 states attending 92 approved, out-of-district special education programs in the private sector were studied, via a survey instrument, including programs for medical disorders, pervasive developmental and/or communication disorders, and emotional and behavioral disorders. Results indicate that students from programs for medical and pervasive developmental/ communication disorders were likely to plan transfers to self-contained programs within their districts, whereas students from emotional/behavioral disorders programs tended to plan transfers to other approved, private programs outside their districts. Among the graduates/aged-out students, those leaving medical and emotional/behavioral disorders programs were likely to plan pursuit of mainstream postschool activities, whereas those from pervasive developmental/communication disorders programs tended to make postschool plans to enter vocational rehabilitation programs. Follow-up studies are needed to determine the degree to which these plans were actually carried out over time.