Like all states, Nevada had a goal of improving outcomes. To meet this goal, they focused on increased enrollment in Pre-Employment Services and Career and Technical Education for students with disabilities.
State Need/Relevant Indicators: Indicator B-1, B-2, B-14
The focus on increasing enrollment in Pre-Employment Services (Pre-ETS) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) was based on a thorough understanding of research-based predictors of post-school success, including interagency collaboration to deliver services, work-based learning experiences, participation in career and technical education programs of study, as well as the importance of relevant instruction to school completion.
Practices Implemented
Core Leadership and Implementation Teams from the Nevada Department of Education’s Office of Inclusive Education (OIE) & Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) meet regularly to review data and regularly engage other collaborators at the state and local levels. Activities to implement the predictors include:
- Executed interagency agreement
- Jointly funded support staff in CTE
- Pilot a Pre-ETS checklist in online IEP system for transition-age students
- Joint professional development
Results
Within the first 2 years of implementation, Nevada observed
- 30% increase in Pre-Employment Transition Services enrollment
- 10%+ increase in CTE course enrollment and
- 10x increase in passing higher level CTE courses
The COVID pandemic negatively affected the availability of services, access to courses, and school attendance in the 2020-2021 and 2021- 2022 school years.
Nevada persists by funding personnel to support CTE enrollment in more districts and implementing a seamless transition (collaborative service delivery) through Nevada Transitions Roadmap through Innovative Partnerships (NV TRIP). Both of these efforts included collaborating within and across state agencies to access resources including use of ARRA funds, followed by a successful application for Rehabilitation Services Administration Disability Innovation Funds.
The State is also implementing strategies to improve the response rate for Indicator 14 - including combining phone and electronic survey methods and calls from local area codes - to improve the quality of its data to inform ongoing and future program improvements.