National Collaborative on Workforce & Disability for Youth

The Center on Education and Work is working with the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth in Washington D.C. to evaluate the effectiveness of individualized learning plans (ILPs). They are measuring the extent to which students with disabilities and students without disabilities achieved equitable access to the ILP processes and ILP experiences of comparable quality.

The ILP is a strategic planning tool that helps students align courses with self-defined career goals. ILPs help schools to build climates that are conducive for learning and are an important tool for school leaders to build relationships between teachers and students.

Research has found a strong consensus among parents, teachers, and students regarding the value and impact of ILPs on improving student outcomes, impact of access to quality career and workforce development opportunities in schools on the development of college and career readiness skills, and identification of career decision-making readiness characteristics.

Future research will evaluate the role of ILPs and access to quality career and workforce development opportunities on students’ successful matriculation into post-secondary education and work.

Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (Cooperative Agreement OD-16519-07-75-4-11) through the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth which is housed at the Institute for Educational Leadership.