A descriptive study on the perceptions of high school principals and guidance counselors regarding the transition of high school students to post-secondary education

Perceptions of high school principals and guidance counselors regarding the transition of high school students to post-secondary education

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Secondary/Postsecondary Disconnect

The Section 504 of ADA that is used for higher education institutions dictate that there to be equal and unbiased access for all the educational opportunities for individuals who are 'otherwise qualified' and yet have legally documented disabilities- not the FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education) which is needed by all the pupils who suffer from disabilities and are studying in public schools (Shaw, Madaus, & Dukes, 2010).

The pupils suffering from disabilities along with their household find it surprising that the IEP (Individualized Education Program) that is dictated by a high school plan Section 504 or IDEA are not considered adequate documents for the access of services and accommodations in colleges (Madaus & Shaw, 2004). A few of the parents do not even know that IDEA is not applicable in the post secondary environment. Additionally, the pupils are not eligible to receive the same kind of accommodations in higher education institutions like colleges which they received when they were in high school (Shaw, 2006).

The amendments made in IDEA 2004, which have currently completely restructured the extent and nature of the formal evaluation that used to be furnished to the disabled students might end up increasing the difficulties and challenges which he families as well as the students themselves face when they are trying to gather the evaluation information required to qualify for accommodation and support in the higher education institution environment (Madaus & Shaw, 2004).

For instance lots of higher education institutions ask for proper documentation on deadlines for particular disabilities and then categorize the ongoing functional limitation as well as the substantial impairment to major activities of the individuals' life. Still, the amendment of IDEA 2004 no longer need the districts of school to fill out a re-assessment of their pupils after an interval of three years if there has been no change in the condition of the student. These evaluations might be required with the team IEP deems it essential, however lots of the school districts who are undergoing financial constraints might be unwilling to bear the cost of assessments which are not deemed mandatory by the federal legislation (Shaw et al., 2010).

The issue of collective the documentation of disability which corresponds to the post secondary guidelines that have been established is exacerbated by a variety of interpretation in the context of what is deemed to be the correct evaluation on the behalf of post secondary and even the secondary schools. The secondary school are concentrating less and less on the formalized testing and increasingly on observing the progress of the student (which is collecting information that based on performance in regards to the limitation and abilities), for instance curriculum focused evaluation, the PBS (Positive Behavior Supports) and the RTI (Response to ...