Chairman Miller Asks GAO to Examine The Effectiveness of Federal Programs Aimed at Helping Students With Disabilities’ Transition from High School to College and Workforce
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine the effectiveness of federal programs that exist to help students with disabilities transition from high school to college or the workforce. Recent studies show that about only half of students with disabilities graduate from high school with a regular diploma. In 2009, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 14.5 percent.
“Currently, educators across the United States are striving to ensure that all public school students are college and career ready to enable their success in this global economy,” Miller wrote. “However, students with disabilities often face academic, physical, social, and economic challenges when transitioning from high school to postsecondary education or the workforce. As a result, they are less likely than other students to make this transition successfully.
“The federal government plays a significant role in supporting students with disabilities through a variety of programs. I remain concerned about whether federal efforts adequately provide a comprehensive, coordinated approach to transition services for youth with disabilities,” Miller said in the letter.
Below is the full text of the letter to GAO.
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The Honorable Gene Dodaro
Acting Comptroller General
U.S. Government Accountability Office
441 G Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20548
Dear Mr. Dodaro:
I write to ask that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine how students with disabilities transition from high school to postsecondary education or the workforce and how existing federal programs support that transition.
The demand for skilled workers has increased in today’s rapidly changing global economy. Currently, educators across the United States are striving to ensure that all public school students are college and career ready to enable their success in this global economy. However, students with disabilities often face academic, physical, social, and economic challenges when transitioning from high school to postsecondary education or the workforce. As a result, they are less likely than other students to make this transition successfully.
The federal government plays a significant role in supporting students with disabilities through a variety of programs. In the past, GAO has reported that a lack of coordination among programs assisting youth with disabilities, as well as differences in program structure and requirements, have affected the provision of services to this population. I remain concerned about whether federal efforts adequately provide a comprehensive, coordinated approach to transition services for youth with disabilities.
Specifically, I request that that GAO undertake the following review:
• Identify the key federal programs that help support students with disabilities in their transition to postsecondary education or the workforce;
• Examine the challenges students with disabilities face in accessing existing federal programs designed to assist them in transitioning to postsecondary education or the workforce;
• Examine the degree to which federal agencies coordinate their efforts in this area and identify any barriers preventing the optimal level of coordination; and
• Examine how federal agencies use performance and program data to assess the effectiveness of coordination efforts in improving service provision to students with disabilities.
I appreciate your prompt attention this request and GAO’s assistance to the Committee on these issues. Please direct your staff to coordinate GAO’s work with the Laura Schifter, the Committee’s Disability and Education Policy Advisor. She may be reached at 202-226-2068.
Sincerely,
George Miller
Chairman
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