Senior Exit
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Introduction/Rationale
The challenge of providing students with disabilities the opportunity for success after high school presents the West Virginia
Department of Education (WVDE) and Local Education Agencies (LEA) with direction for transition services for students at the
secondary level. In this era of educational reform the focus on improving graduation rates and reducing dropout rates, particularly for
students with disabilities, is generating significant activity at all levels of education. The potential positive impact for students with
disabilities in West Virginia is significant.
The WVDE is promoting educational reform through The Framework for High Performing School Systems to assist districts in
meeting the accountability standards of WV Achieves. “High yield strategies” in the areas of curriculum, instruction, school
effectiveness and support for students and parents are outlined in The Framework and provide districts with a basic understanding of
the identified strategies to affect outcomes for all students.
The collection and analysis of data allows the Office of Special Education (OSE) and the LEA to identify areas for change to improve
outcomes for students. The WVDE Policy 2419 (Policy 2419), Baseline data for the 2003-2004 school year was required by the
United States Department of Education (USDE) on the Annual Performance Report for the established priorities under the Individual
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Improvement Plan for the established priorities, including “improving post-secondary
outcomes of their [the student] choice.” Policy 2419 identifies transition services as a “coordinated set of activities for a student with
a disability, designed within an outcome-oriented process, that promotes movement from school to post-school activities.”
The purpose of this study was to obtain information from graduating seniors with disabilities and their parents regarding activities
during high school and the level of satisfaction they perceived from a variety of school activities related to transition services. This
information provides the baseline data, which will be used in conjunction with future data to identify activities for program
improvement.
Overview and Methodology
Questions guiding this survey were:
 How are students and parents involved in the transition process during high school?
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 2 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results


How do future plans of students and parents align with activities during high school?
Which school supports and activities are perceived as most/least helpful?
Separate surveys were developed for students with disabilities who were exiting with a standard or modified diploma or reaching age
21 at the end of the 2003-2004 school year and the parents of those students. The senior high schools of the 55 counties in West
Virginia distributed the student surveys to the identified 2430 students and their parents. Each student survey was to be completed
individually or in a small group setting and with assistance for any student unable to complete the survey independently. Parent
surveys were distributed to parents along with an explanatory memorandum and a self addressed stamped envelope for return directly
to the WVDE.
The surveys were comprised of items (27 for students, 25 for parents) regarding careers, activities while in high school, future plans,
general information, Individual Education Program (IEP) activities, the degree of satisfaction/perceived assistance from the school
system regarding specific skills development and specific transition activities that were identified as helpful while in school.
Results/Summary/Analysis
Student and parent survey responses are summarized in this section of the report. Data is presented in tabular format with follow-up
discussion. When similar responses are requested, both student and parent results are presented in a side-by-side format. Tables,
summary and analysis should provide school teams with baseline information to identify possible target areas for improving outcomes
for students with disabilities. Additional conclusions may be derived upon further examination of district specific dada and data from
other sources within the district.
629 student surveys were returned while only 305 parent surveys were returned of the 2430 distributed respectively.
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 3 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Career Information from Students
WVDE Policy 2510, Assuring Quality of Education, requires all students to develop an Individual Student Transition Plan (ISTP).
Each student selects a Career Pathway, Career Cluster and Career Major. The career information is also a required part of the WV
IEP. When students were requested to identify their career major, it was apparent that many were unclear. Many simply restated their
career cluster. Students indicated the Entry level pathway more often than any other while 6% made no pathway selection. Slightly
more than half of the students indicated either a selection of skilled or professional pathways indicating they planned further education
activities.
Terms/Glossary
Career Clusters – Broad grouping of related occupations representative of the type of occupations available in the world of work.
Clusters are identified as: Business/Marketing, Engineering/Technical, Fine Arts/Humanities, Health Services, Human Services,
Science/Natural Resources. (Policy 2510)
Career Majors – A grouping of occupations with significant commonalities within a career cluster (Policy 2510)
Pathway – Designation of a student’s intended postsecondary goal within the five-year education plan and the level and sequence of
courses needed to achieve that goal. Professional (Baccalaureate Degree or above); Skilled (Associate Degree or Postsecondary
Certificate); or Entry (Entry into the workplace directly after high school).
Work Based Learning – Education activities that assist students to gain an awareness of the workplace; develop an appreciation of the
relevance of academic subject matter to workplace performance; and gain valuable work experience and skills while exploring career
interests and abilities.
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 4 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Career Pathway
Students
238
212
141
38
Entry Pathway
Skilled Pathway
Professional Pathway
No Pathway Selected
37.8%
33.7%
22.4%
6.0%
Career Cluster
Students
Business/Marketing
Engineering/Technical
Fine Arts/Humanities
Health Services
Human Services
Science/Natural Resources
No Career Cluster Selected
49
268
47
112
57
38
58
7.8%
42.6%
7.5%
17.8%
9.1%
6.0%
9.2%
Diploma
Parents
Standard Diploma
Modified Diploma
No Response
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
251
35
19
82.3%
11.5%
6.2%
Page 5 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Career Pathway (Students)
Career Cluster (Students)
6%
9%
8%
9%
6%
22%
38%
42%
18%
8%
34%
Entry
Skilled
Professional
No Pathway Selected
Business/Marketing
Engineering/Technical
Fine Arts/Humanities
Health Services
Human Services
Science/Natural Resources
No Career Cluster Selected
Diploma (Parents)
12%
6%
82%
Standard
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Modified
No Response
Page 6 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Career And Technical Concentration
Students
Completed required courses in Career and Technical
concentration
Earned credential/certificate for the concentration area
Student - Completed Required Courses in
Career and Technical Concentration
Parents
Yes
369
58.7%
No
260
41.3%
Yes
149
48.9%
No
156
51.1%
268
361
101
204
42.6%
57.4%
33.1%
66.9%
Parent - Completed Required Courses in Career
and Technical Concentration
41.3%
48.9%
58.7%
Yes
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
No
51.1%
Yes
No
Page 7 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Job Experience while in High School
Type of experience:
Students
Parents
No experience
101
16.1%
76
24.9%
Work-based learning experience
221
35.1%
79
25.9%
Part-time work
179
28.5%
54
17.7%
Summer job
96
15.3%
69
22.6%
Other
15
2.4%
17
5.6%
No Choice
17
2.7%
10
3.3%
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 8 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Parents - Job Experience While In High School
Students - Job Experience While In High School
36%
6%
3%
25%
23%
16%
28%
3%
2%
15%
25%
18%
No Experience
Work-based Learning Experience
No Experience
Work-based Learning Experience
Part-time Work
Summer Job
Part-time Work
Summer Job
Other
No Response
Other
No Response
Extracurricular Activities While In High School
Type of extracurricular activity:
Students
Parents
Clubs
193
30.1%
68
22.3%
Sports
135
21.5%
57
18.7%
Performing arts
35
5.6%
21
6.9%
Volunteer
96
15.3%
51
16.7%
None
214
34.0%
116
38.0%
No response
24
3.8%
20
6.6%
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 9 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Parents - Extracurricular Activities While In
High School
Students - Extracurricular Activities While In
High School
3.8%
6.6%
38.0%
30.1%
34.0%
22.3%
15.3%
Clubs
Volunteer
5.6%
Sports
None
16.7%
21.5%
18.7%
6.9%
Performing Arts
No Response
Clubs
Volunteer
Sports
None
Performing Arts
No Response
Transition Related Activities (Students)
High school activities
that…
Helped me with career
planning
Helped me connect to
a job
Helped me connect to
further training
Helped me connect
with adult support
agencies
Helped me develop
Academic
Classes
198
31.5%
305
48.5%
CareerRelated
Activities
227
36.1%
117
18.6%
264
42.0%
223
35.5%
159
25.3%
116
18.4%
57
9.1%
146
23.2%
261
41.5%
164
26.1%
219
34.8%
91
14.5%
60
9.5%
108
17.2%
176
28.0%
139
22.1%
315
50.1%
100
15.9%
63
10.0%
216
34.3%
295
46.9%
214
34.0%
176
28.0%
112
17.8%
36
5.7%
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Vocational
Classes
IEP
Participation
Self-Advocacy
Instruction
No Response
252
40.1%
109
17.3%
31
4.9%
Page 10 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
work-related skills
Were academically
254
40.4%
254
40.4%
167
challenging and gave
me confidence to
pursue further
education
Helped me make
228
36.2%
249
39.6%
193
responsible choices,
understand my rights,
and express my
opinions
* Note: Each respondent could make more than one selection.
26.6%
179
28.5%
99
15.7%
58
9.2%
30.7%
256
40.7%
162
25.8%
40
6.4%
Transition Related Activities (Students)
High School Activities Identified as Helpful for Transition Services
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 11 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Helped me with
career planning
Helped me connect to Helped me connect to Helped me connect
a job
further training
with adult support
agencies
Helped me develop
work-related skills
Were academically
Helped me make
challenging and gave responsible choices,
me confidence to
understand my
pursue further
rights, express my
education
opinions
Academic Classes
Vocational Classes
Career-Related Activities
IEP Participation
Self-Advocacy Instruction
No Response
Transition Related Activities (Parents)
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 12 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
High school activities
that…
Academic
Classes
Vocational
Classes
Helped with career
80
26.2%
147
48.2%
planning
Helped connect to a
47
15.4%
121
39.7%
job
Helped connect to
62
20.3%
115
37.7%
further training
Helped connect with
34
11.1%
46
15.1%
adult support agencies
Helped develop work104
34.1%
132
43.3%
related skills
Were academically
98
32.1%
106
34.8%
challenging and gave
confidence to pursue
further education
Helped child make
102
33.4%
103
33.8%
responsible choices,
understand rights, and
express opinions
* Note: Each respondent could make more than one selection.
CareerRelated
Activities
95
31.1%
IEP
Participation
Self-Advocacy
Instruction
No Response
146
47.9%
33
10.8%
34
11.1%
88
28.9%
81
26.6%
29
9.5%
68
22.3%
78
25.6%
110
36.1%
25
8.2%
67
22.0%
62
20.3%
162
53.1%
26
8.5%
72
23.6%
98
32.1%
112
36.7%
35
11.5%
43
14.1%
76
24.9%
94
30.8%
32
10.5%
68
22.3%
79
25.9%
154
50.5%
66
21.6%
49
16.1%
Transition Related Activities (Parents)
High School Activities Identified as Helpful for Transition Services
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 13 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Helped with career
planning
Helped connect to a
job
Helped connect to
further training
Helped connect with Helped develop work- Were academically
adult support
related skills
challenging and gave
agencies
confidence to pursue
further education
Helped child make
responsible choices,
understand rights,
express opinions
Academic Classes
Vocational Classes
Career-Related Activities
IEP Participation
Self-Advocacy Instruction
No Response
Assistance for Transition Related Activities (Students)
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 14 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Degree of Assistance
My high school
program
provided/helped…
Not At All
A Little
Some
A Lot
Very Much
No Response
Career planning
activities and
supports.
Connect to a job.
Connect for further
training.
Connect with adult
support agencies.
Activities for me to
develop work-related
skills.
Academic challenge
and built confidence
to pursue further
education.
Me make
responsible choices,
understand rights,
express opinions.
33
5.2%
61
9.7%
204
32.4%
178
28.3%
133
21.1%
20
3.2%
131
78
20.8%
12.4%
100
69
15.9%
11.0%
171
163
27.2%
25.9%
115
164
18.3%
26.1%
89
131
14.1%
20.8%
23
24
3.7%
3.8%
97
15.4%
79
12.6%
142
22.6%
146
23.2%
145
23.1%
20
3.2%
29
4.6%
72
11.4%
155
24.6%
186
29.6%
166
26.4%
21
3.3%
39
6.2%
67
10.7%
182
28.9%
187
29.7%
129
20.5%
25
4.0%
20
3.2%
57
9.1%
160
25.4%
200
31.8%
168
26.7%
24
3.8%
Assistance for Transition Related Activities (Students)
Degree of Assistance Provided by the School for Transition Services
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 15 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Career planning
activities and
supports.
Connect to a job.
Not At All
A Little
Connect for further
training.
Some
Connect with adult
support agencies.
A Lot
Provided activities
for me to develop
work-related skills.
Academic challenge
and built confidence
to pursue further
education.
Very Much
Helped me make
responsible choices,
understand rights,
express opinions.
No Response
Assistance for Transition Related Activities (Parents)
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 16 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Degree of Assistance
My child’s high
school program
provided/helped…
Not At All
Career planning
activities and
supports.
Connect to a job.
Connect for further
training.
Connect with adult
support agencies.
Activities to develop
work-related skills.
Academic challenge
and built confidence
to pursue further
education.
Him/her make
responsible choices,
understand rights,
express opinions.
18
5.9%
38
12.5%
91
29.8%
89
29.2%
54
17.7%
15
4.9%
97
58
31.8%
19.0%
37
36
12.1%
11.8%
66
64
18.4%
27.5%
56
84
18.4%
27.5%
34
46
11.2%
15.1%
15
17
4.9%
5.6%
68
22.3%
35
11.5%
63
23.3%
71
23.3%
57
18.7%
11
3.6%
16
5.2%
40
13.1%
75
32.5%
99
32.5%
61
20.0%
14
4.6%
33
10.8%
46
15.1%
71
28.2%
86
28.2%
52
17.0%
17
5.6%
16
5.2%
32
10.5%
78
33.4%
102
33.4%
64
21.0%
13
4.3%
A Little
Some
A Lot
Very Much
No Response
Assistance for Transition Related Activities (Parents)
Degree of Assistance Provided by the School for Transition Services
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 17 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Career planning
activities and
supports.
Connect to a job.
Not At All
A Little
Connect for further
training.
Some
Connect with adult Provided activities to Academic challenge
support agencies. develop work-related and built confidence
skills.
to pursue further
education.
A Lot
Very Much
Helped make
responsible choices,
understand rights,
express opinions.
No Response
Assistance for Transition Related Activities (Students & Parents)
Degree of Assistance Provided by the School for Transition Services
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 18 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Career planning
activities and
supports.
Connect to a job.
Connect for
Connect with adult Provided activities
Academically
Helped make
further training, support agencies. to develop workchallenging and
responsible
such as vocational
related skills.
given confidence to
choices,
school/college.
pursue further understand rights,
education.
express opinions
respectfully.
Not At All to A Little (Student)
Not At All to A Little (Parent)
A Lot to Very Much (Student)
A Lot to Very Much (Parent)
Individualized Education Program
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 19 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Students
Parents
IEP helped with success in regular classes
Yes
540
85.9%
No
89
14.1%
Yes
266
87.2%
No
39
12.8%
Student ideas and suggestions were considered for the IEP
556
88.4%
73
11.6%
253
83.0%
52
17.0%
Student is comfortable discussing special needs/asking for
help
523
83.1%
106
16.9%
215
70.5%
90
29.5%
Student - IEP Helped With Success In Regular
Classes
Parent - IEP Helped With Success In Regular
Classes
12.8%
14.1%
85.9%
Yes
87.2%
Yes
No
No
IEP (continued)
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 20 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Student - Student Ideas And Suggestions Were
Considered For The IEP
Parents - Student Ideas And Suggestions Were
Considered For The IEP
17.0%
11.6%
88.4%
Yes
83.0%
No
Yes
Student - Student Is Comfortable Discussing
Special Needs/Asking For Help
No
Parent - Student Is Comfortable Discussing
Special Needs/Asking For Help
16.9%
29.5%
70.5%
83.1%
Yes
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
No
Yes
No
Page 21 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Driver’s License
Students
Yes
344
54.7%
Has a driver’s license (not learner’s permit)
Parents
No
285
45.3%
Yes
178
58.4%
No
127
41.6%
Parents - Student Has A Driver's License
Students - Has A Driver's License
41.6%
45.3%
54.7%
Yes
58.4%
Yes
No
No
Future Plans for Education
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 22 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Students
Parents
I…
My child…
Yes
445
70.7%
…plan(s) to continue my/his/her education.
Planning to Continue Education (Students)
29%
No
184
29.3%
Yes
206
67.5%
No
99
32.5%
Child is Planning to Continue Education (Parents)
32%
68%
71%
Yes
No
Yes
No
Future Plans for Education
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 23 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Of the 445 students and 206 parents who answered YES:
Type of education:
Students
Parents
College
191
42.9%
82
39.8%
Vocational
98
22.0%
58
28.2%
Technical
69
15.5%
36
17.5%
Adult Education
22
4.9%
8
3.9%
Apprenticeship/On-the-Job Training
55
12.4%
18
8.7%
No Choice
10
2.3%
4
1.9%
Students
Parents
2%
12%
4% 9%
5%
43%
2%
40%
17%
16%
28%
22%
Vocational
College
Vocational
Technical
Adult Education
Technical
Adult Education
Apprenticeship/On-the-Job Training
No Choice
Apprenticeship/On-the-Job Training
No Choice
College
Future Plans for Education
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 24 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Of the 184 students and 99 parents who answered NO:
Reason(s) for not continuing…
Students
Parents
Have a job
87
47.3%
33
33.3%
Need to work
56
30.4%
19
19.2%
Getting married
3
1.6%
3
3.0%
Too expensive
11
6.0%
9
9.1%
Unsure of my/his/her plans
40
21.7%
40
40.4%
Joining the military
12
6.5%
8
8.1%
Poor grades/not ready
4
2.2%
5
5.1%
Need a break from school
11
6.0%
9
9.1%
Not needed for my job
5
2.7%
1
1.0%
Supported work/day activities
24
13.0%
10
10.1%
Other
10
5.4%
7
7.1%
No Choice
18
9.8%
N/A
N/A
* Note: Each respondent could make more than one selection.
Future Plans for Education
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 25 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Reasons for Not Continuing Education
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 26 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
Future Plans for Living
Independently in my/his/her own place
Students
188
29.9%
Parents
47
15.4%
With family or friends
151
24.0%
52
17.0%
In a dormitory or on a military base
59
9.4%
31
10.2%
At home
190
30.2%
159
52.1%
In a group home/shared apartment
18
2.9%
7
2.3%
Other
5
0.8%
7
2.3%
No Response
18
2.9%
2
0.7%
Future Plans for Living
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 27 of 28
2004 Senior Exit Survey Results
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education
Page 28 of 28