Transitioning from High School Special Education to College: Aligning Programs with Policies and Expectations

Authors

  • Brianna N. Sutton (Author) Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission
Curriculum from a rural central-Midwestern high school special education transition program was analyzed and compared to the college policies and expectations of a private college in the rural central Midwest. Data from student files of college students with disabilities were compared to high school special education transitional curriculum and college policies and expectations. The study identified a misalignment between the identified areas of concern of students with disabilities in higher education, as evidenced by their student files and the skills taught to high school special education students in preparation for college. Additionally, this study identified gaps between high school special education transition program outcomes and college expectations.

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Sutton, B. N. (2026). Transitioning from High School Special Education to College: Aligning Programs with Policies and Expectations. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 21(2), 69-80. https://www.aasep.org/article/view/644

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