National Post School Outcome Data Community of Practice
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Thanks I appreciate and find helpful your indepth and thoughtful
response.
All the best,
Donna Martinez
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:52 AM
Subject: [NPSO]: re: focus group development for survey development
National Post School Outcome Data Community of Practice
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Hi Donna
I apologize for the delay in responding to your email. I have been in
and out
of the office this month and wanted to devote time to give you a
comprehensive
reply.
I would be interested in learning how the panel/focus/work group of
stakeholders is designed, designated and brought together.
The Texas Effectiveness Study has a long history of collecting
post-school
outcome data which allows for a history of surveys to utilize. Other
states and
the NPSO have valid survey protocols that afford the opportunity to
utilize as
well (www.psocenter.org <http://www.psocenter.org>).
Aside from this tidbit about sources for PSO survey items, the current
Texas
Effectiveness Study (TES) work group met the end of May for the purpose
of
reviewing the current survey protocols used by the TES. Each survey
item and
response categories were scrutinized against a set of priority and
clarity
factors. Recommendations were made for revision, addition, and/or
deletion of
survey items and/or response categories. The group looked at the
federal data
requirements as well as supplemental data needs of the state and LEAs
for
continuous improvement efforts. Other discussion topics included
survey
accommodation, ways to increase response rate, and program improvements
to the
TES Mini-Grant program. The work group members were specifically
invited by the
TES decentralized technical assistance project to represent a
diversified yet
experienced group of individuals to accomplish the tasks at hand.
Who are the individuals or the agencies represented on your panel?
The TES work group include representatives from business that support
individuals with disabilities, parent/advocate of individual with
disability,
university instructor , independent researcher, district
administrators/coordinators,
district transition specialist, Education Service Center regional
transition
specialists,
What criteria do you use to determined who is considered a stakeholder
in
developing the needed, appropriate, and beneficial PSO
information--especially
if you plan to move beyond the minimal federal requirements.
The Texas Effectiveness Study has been collecting post-school outcome
data for
the past 16 years in the areas of employment, post-secondary education
and
training, independent living, and recreation/leisure/social engagement.
In 2004
the current system of collecting PSO data was implemented to further
address
state data needs and to provide a continuous source of reliable data.
Previous
attempts at collecting data through a longitudinal follow-along design
resulted
in high attrition rates. The current system is designed to sample
every exiting
class and follow each sample for two consecutive years. Through
experience we
found that at the two year mark the attrition rate increased
dramatically.
The survey protocols used are developed based on an analysis of prior
surveys as
well as current data needs of the state. Revisions are reviewed by the
Statewide High School Transition Network, the TES "Action Committee"
which is a
program evaluation committee for the TES Mini-Grant program, and the
Post-School
Results Improvement Group which is connected with the Texas Continuous
Improvement Process. Recommendations from these various groups is
incorporated
into a final draft of the survey.
The TES work group participants were chosen based on their ability to
provide a
critical eye to the survey from a fresh point of view. Especially in
light of
the federal perspective. District participants were familiar with the
TES and
the survey protocols and had experience administering the surveys.
This
provided valuable input regarding LEA needs, survey clarity from the
student's
perspective, survey response issues, etc. The independent researcher
has work
with the project over the past few years assisting with the qualitative
and
quantitative analysis of data. This individual provided analytical
perspective
of survey items and response categories. Business and postsecondary
school
participation provided valuable perspectives on exit needs. The
parent/advocate
provided an additional perspective on post-school linkages, follow-up,
and
creating opportunities for employment.
What is the process in announcing the panel, inviting their
participation?
An initial invitation to participate in the TES work group was made by
email
followed up by a phone conversation. All correspondence was forwarded
to my
contact at the state education agency as well as my director here at
the
Regional Education Service Center. Of course I went through all the
appropriate
paperwork to make arrangements for the work group meeting.
How open is this process for public participation and if it is not an
open
process, in what way to you elicit public input?
The TES survey protocols are sent to committees that have
representatives from
public agencies, parent/advocacy organizations, district personnel,
state
education agency representative, etc. for review. The survey protocols
are also
available on a public website at
Grade-12 Exit Survey (scroll to bottom of page for PDF and word
document)
<https://www.texaseffectiveness.net/LocalStudy/StudentSurveys/ExitSurvey.
asp>
Post-school Survey (scroll to bottom of page for PDF and word document)
<https://www.texaseffectiveness.net/LocalStudy/StudentSurveys/PSOSurvey.a
sp>
Debby
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deborah Norris
Project Coordinator
Texas Effectiveness Study
Education Service Center Region XI
3001 North Freeway
Fort Worth, TX 76106
817.740.7582
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED] 07/26/06 08:19PM >>>
Thank you to those of you who answered in depth and described just how
you
are moving beyond the minimum requirements for your surveys.
It was suggested I repost my questions from earlier (see below) with
the
hope our community of practice will develop a discussion
thread/exchange of
hints and ideas.
So... with regard to how you all determine what you will add to the
basic
survey questions, especially using a focus group for that mission.....
In a message dated 7/19/2006 11:41:04 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
[EMAIL
PROTECTED] writes:
Study is working with a group of individuals from across the state to
revise
the current surveys.
I would be interested in learning how the panel/focus/work group of
stakeholders is designed, designated and brought together.
Who are the individuals or the agencies represented on your panel?
What criteria do you use to determined who is considered a stakeholder
in
developing the needed, appropriate, and beneficial PSO
information--especially
if you plan to move beyond the minimal federal requirements.
What is the process in announcing the panel, inviting their
participation?
How open is this process for public participation and if it is not an
open
process in what way to you elicit public input?
Donna Martinez
Donna Martinez
________________________________________________________________________
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