AU's P.O.D.S. software helps educators improve transition of students with disabilities
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Post-School Outcomes Data System, a Web-based data collection system developed by the Auburn Transition Leadership Institute in Auburn University's College of Education, offers state education agencies a tool to track the transition of students with disabilities, collect information to improve transition programs, and meet new federal reporting mandates.
The transition from high school to post-secondary education or the work force presents unique challenges to students with disabilities. Educators across the nation are seeking ways to reduce both the near 30 percent dropout rate, and the 70 percent unemployment rate of these students.
Karen Rabren, ATLI co-director and associate professor in AU's Department of Rehabilition and Special Education, began work in 2003 with her ATLI colleagues—George Hall, ATLI data manager, and Phil Browning, department head and Wayne T. Smith distinguished professor—on the Web-based P.O.D.S.
The software was copyrighted in March, and several state departments of education are expressing interest in purchasing P.O.D.S. to collect data on their own students with disabilities.
"I congratulate those involved for their innovative work that will have a significant impact," said AU College of Education Dean Fran Kochan. "The development of P.O.D.S. exemplifies the goals of our education research to serve the diverse needs of learners of all ages and at all levels of ability."
"Beginning this year, the federal government is requiring all state departments of education to begin collecting post-high school data on students with disabilities," said Rabren. "Alabama is a leader in this effort."
Rabren said that Alabama, through a contract with AU's College of Education and the ATLI, has collected post-high school outcome data on its students with disabilities for the past ten years.
Alabama is one of the first states to collect this data, and now serves as one of ten states on the Technical Work Group for the National Post-School Outcomes Center, which develops data collection protocol for use nationwide.
"The early years of data collection were completely manual," Rabren said. "We collected the data by phone with handwritten responses."
"P.O.D.S. provides a secure and paperless method for collecting the data," said Hall. "It is accurate, cost-effective, user-friendly, secure and has been thoroughly field-tested."
P.O.D.S. provides other benefits over manual collection, as well. The process can be monitored by district and state education administrators, the system is Web-based and password-protected, district data is easily compared to statewide data, and the system includes written instructions and graphic displays.
For more information about P.O.D.S., call the ATLI at 334/844-5943, email Rabren at rabreks@auburn.edu, or email Hall at hallgeo@auburn.edu.
Contributed by Mitch Emmons, AU Office of the Vice President for Research
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