About NSTTAC
NSTTAC is a national Technical Assistance and
Dissemination center funded from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2020 by the
U.S. Department of Educations Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) (Award #H326J050004).
The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center ( NSTTAC ) is directed
and staffed by the Special Education Program at the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, in partnership with the Special
Education Programs at Western Michigan University
and Appalachian State University.
In order to ensure full implementation of IDEA and help youth with disabilities
and their families achieve desired post-school outcomes, NSTTAC will help states
build capacity to support and improve transition planning, services, and outcomes
for youth with disabilities and disseminate information and provide technical assistance
on scientifically-based research practices with an emphasis on building and sustaining
state-level infrastructures of support and district-level demonstrations of effective
transition methods for youth with disabilities. The NSTTAC will provide efficient
and effective large-scale implementation and sustainability of research-based secondary
transition
Expert Panels on Identifying Research Based Transition Practices,
Enhancing States’ Capacity
, and Dissemination and Outreach
include both consumers (i.e., parents, students, teachers, administrators) and content
experts. We expect to build effective, efficient, and sustainable research-based
interventions and models that improve outcomes of youth with disabilities by:
- Assisting State Education Agencies in collecting data on federally mandated State
Performance Plans’ Indicator 13 and using these data to improve transition
services.
- Identifying research-based practices in transition. These knowledge generation activities
will include, at a minimum: (a) an analysis of IDEA Part B State Annual Performance
Reports; (b) identifying and synthesizing effective and promising practices from
the WWC, as well as other OSEP-funded centers; (c) consulting with other relevant
federal and state agencies; and (d) conducting literature reviews, as needed.
- assistance and dissemination. The plan will identify each activity necessary to
advance implementation of transition-related actions in states and demonstrate the
strategic relationship of these actions to improved outcomes for youth with disabilities.
- Implementing a strategic plan for technical assistance that enhances state capacity
to support and improve transition planning, services, and outcomes using a capacity
building institute model which is a proven process for linking research-based
practices to state and local implementation, an accessible website and other activities.
Capacity building will be planned in collaboration with other OSEP funded technical
assistance centers, regional resource centers for special education, state directors
of special education, and regional parent training and information centers.
- Developing and disseminating an array of products to State-specific audiences including
students, families, teachers, rehabilitation counselors, administrators, policymakers,
and researchers. Products and strategies will be developed and disseminated in collaboration
with other technical assistance providers, organizations, and agencies.
STATE OF TRANSITION
High school graduation traditionally signifies a time filled with many challenges
and changes. It is a time anxiously awaited by students and parents, filled with
hopes and dreams of successfully leaving high school and moving into employment
and/or post-secondary education. Halpern (1992) has defined this transition as “a
period of floundering that occurs for at least the first several years
after leaving school as adolescents attempt to assume a variety of adult
roles in their communities” (p. 203) . Unfortunately for students with disabilities
the “floundering period” often lasts for years, and in some cases, a
lifetime. To ensure full implementation of IDEA and to help youth with disabilities
and their families achieve desired post-school outcomes, NSTTAC
helps states build capacity to support and improve transition planning, services,
and outcomes for youth with disabilities.
PURPOSE OF NSTTAC
To assist states to build capacity to support and improve transition planning, services,
and outcomes for youth with disabilities.
PROJECT STAFF
David Test, Project Co-Principal Investigator
– Knowledge Generation
Department of Special Education and Child Development
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte , NC 28223
704-687-8853
704-687-2916 (fax)
dwtest@uncc.edu
Paula Kohler, Project Co-Principal
Investigator – Capacity Building
Department of Educational Studies
Western Michigan University
3506 Sangren Hall
Kalamazoo , MI 49008
269-387-5955
269-387-2826 (fax)
paula.kohler@wmich.edu
Larry Kortering, Project Co-Principal
Investigator – Dissemination and Outreach
Appalachian State University
Reich College of Education
Department of Language Reading and Exceptionalities
ASU Box 32085
Boone , NC 28608-2085
828-262-6060
korteringlj@appstate.edu
Marlene Simon-Burroughs,
Project Officer
Associate Division Director
Secondary Transition, Postsecondary Team
Office of Special Education Programs [auto link to OSEP website]
U.S. Department of Education
550 12th Street, S.W., Room 4151
Washington, DC 20202-2600
Ph (202) 245-7525 Fax (202) 245-7619
Marlene.Simon-Burroughs@ed.gov
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html
Catherine Fowler, Project Coordinator
Special Education & Child Development
9201 University City Blvd. , UNC Charlotte
Charlotte , NC 29223
704-687-8735
704-687-2916 (fax)
chfowler@uncc.edu
Patricia Braziel, Project Coordinator,
ASU: brazielpm@appstate.edu
Jennifer Coyle
Project Coordinator
National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center
Western Michigan University
Department of Educational Studies
3407 Sangren Hall
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
269-387-2824
269-387-2826 (fax)
jennifer.l.hill@wmich.edu
June Gothberg
- State Technical Assistance, WMU
Terry McClannon, Technology Facilitator,
ASU
Florence Parkhill, Project
Secretary, UNC Charlotte
Karen DeVries Project Staff (WMU)
Christopher Needham, NSTTAC
Notes editor
Harvey Crawley, Graduate Research
Assistant, WMU
Audrey Bartholomew, Doctoral Research Assistant (bio information will be added soon...)
Jennifer Cease-Cook,
Doctoral Research Assistant (photo only, bio information will be added soon...)
La’Shawndra Scroggins,
Doctoral Research Assistant (photo only, bio information will be added soon...)
Melissa Hudson,
Doctoral Research Assistant (photo only, bio information will be added soon...)
Ozalle Toms,
Doctoral Research Assistant (photo only, bio information will be added soon...)
Rashell Bowerman,
Doctoral Research Assistant, WMU
Robert Green,
rfgreen@uncc.edu - UNC Charlotte