A study of teachers' perceptions of school-level factors affecting transition services

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Kurt Charles Lazaroff (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
William Bursuck

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore teacher perceptions of providing transition services to high school students with special needs and to understand the variables that act as facilitators or barriers to providing those services. A qualitative research method was used to understand the perceptions of school personnel of transition services in their school with the goal of understanding contextual variables affecting those services. The conceptual framework for this study combined two known models of school-level phenomenon: School capacity-a model of components of implementing school program reform, and the Taxonomy of Transition- a model of transition elements and activities. The sample of participants included special educators, general education teachers, and school counselors from two high schools in two different school districts: one rural and the other in a small urban area. Data were collected from each participant via one-on-one private interviews. Coding of transcribed interviews was conducted by matching participants' comments and phrases to the themes of school capacity and transition. Thematic matrices were constructed to identify associations between school capacity components and transition activities. Themes and associations were tabulated to demonstrate relative levels of association between school capacity and transition activities. Five major themes are recognized from this study. The implications of these findings for future practice and research are discussed.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2013
Keywords
Post-secondary Transition Services, Special Education
Subjects
Students with disabilities $x Education (Secondary) $z United States
Special education $z United States
Special education teachers

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