Center on Education and Work
School of Education
University of Wisconsin-Madison
964 Educational Sciences Bldg.
1025 West Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53706-1796

FAX: (608) 262-3050
TEL: (608) 265-6700

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CEW Quarterly Reports - January - March 1999

research design | research methods | products and dissemination | work completed | work in progress | future plans | bottom of page

The Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Program: Conducting Action Research to Document and Disseminate Inclusion and Support Strategies

The study is a directed research project funded by the Office of Special Education Programs/U.S. Department of Education January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2000 (2 years),$200,000 per year. The purpose is to examine the experiences of youth with disabilities in the Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Program and its impact on their transition to careers or postsecondary education.

Research Design

Identify and study YA programs industry specific areas where students with disabilities participated, graduated from the program, and made a successful transition to careers and/or college

Develop and apply procedures and criteria to identify YA experiences and programs, and examine their results via an intensive case study method.

Identify factors contributing to valuable learning experiences and examine how these factors relate to achieving exemplary learning for children with disabilities

Research Methods

Qualitative: In-depth audio-taped interviews with YA graduates (with and w/o disabilities), YA non-completers (with and w/o disabilities), and several groups of stakeholders. Follow-up interviews with target group

Quantitative: Analysis of students school records including demographic information, IEP content, career plans, IEP meetings, YA training agreements, students’ work samples

Action Research Team - composed of university researchers, local educators and teacher education students will be involved in the research design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination phases —the action research team will be guided by the project goals and objectives

Products & Dissemination

guidebook of best practices for serving youth w/disabilities in WBL programs

a series of Profiles describing the experiences of individual youth w/disabilities who completed the YA program

research briefs and/or articles

hosting a seminar with opportunities for participants to visit YA programs in WI (yr 3)

2-4 conference presentations

project website

Project Update - QUARTERLY REPORT: January - March 1999

Work Completed

reviewed proposal, tasks and timeline

identified Project Advisory Team (PAT) members, communicated with members, determined PAT responsibilities/activities

planned and conducted first PAT meeting (March 23, 1999)

communicated with several personnel in 2 state agencies for release of database information concerning students in YA programs:VEERS data for completers and non-completers (1995-1998); EEN data for completers and noncompleters (1995-1998); letter of understanding to Bryan Albrecht (for State Superintendent Benson)

developed letter for YA Coordinator participation in dissemination of student letters

developed letter and release form for target and comparison groups

Work in Progress

identifying personal student information (name, DOB, phone, current address etc.) for target and comparison groups

developing an Action Research Team (anticipated 6-8 members)

developing interview questions for target group, comparison groups, and stakeholders

arranging focus groups with parents/guardians and special educators

Future Plans

development of Action Research Team training session

research design | research methods | products and dissemination | work completed | work in progress | future plans | bottom of page

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