Utah's State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) is a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities. This initiative aligns with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), ensuring systematic improvement across the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), local education agencies (LEAs), and community partners.
Key Goals of the SSIP
- Increase capacity to implement the SSIP
- Align and leverage current postsecondary transition improvement initiatives
- Increase utilization of evidence-based practices (EBPs)
- Improve infrastructure and coordination for delivering effective professional learning (PL) and technical assistance (TA)
- Enhance collaboration among state and local stakeholders
- Increase capacity to utilize national TA resources
- Strengthen local systems supporting postsecondary transition planning
- Improve general supervision systems under IDEA and ESSA
These goals aim to improve postsecondary transition planning, leading to better graduation rates, reduced dropout rates, and improved post-school outcomes in employment, further education, and independent living for students with disabilities.
SSIP Evaluation Plan
The SSIP Evaluation Plan has two major components:
- Calculating the SiMR target: Reduce the percentage of students ages 19–22 exiting a post-high program who report being unengaged or under-engaged by 20 percentage points over five years.
- Evaluating the components within each of the three Broad Improvement Strategies: Comprehensive supports for youth and families, smooth flow of services, and coordination of services.
Broad Improvement Strategies
Strategy I: Comprehensive Supports for Youth and Families
- Professional learning for educators
- Education and opportunities for youth and families
- Improved access to supports and services for underserved populations
Strategy II: Smooth Flow of Services
- Improve data match across agencies
- Track services and engagement over time
- Create a Portrait of Postsecondary Transition
Strategy III: Coordination of Services
- Create a systematic referral process
- Improve data sharing system
- Create a common language for communication
During the first year of implementation, Utah gathered baseline data on all target activities and outputs identified in the Theory of Action and Logic Model. In the second year, strategy and activity outcomes were compared to the baseline data.
SSIP FFY 2022 Evaluation Results
Utah reported a decrease in the number of students reporting as unengaged or under-engaged this year. The state also saw a decrease in the dropout rate for students with disabilities, contributing to better post-school outcomes. However, there was a decrease in the graduation rate, partly due to an increase in students moving into adult education.
Common barriers to achieving post-school goals included mental health issues, physical/disability-related health issues, lack of employment support, COVID-19-related issues, and lack of support from adult services.
Conclusion
Based on discussions with Utah’s stakeholders, the SSIP activities currently being implemented are deemed appropriate to impact the SiMR and improve postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities.
For more information, please follow this link.
