Messages From Former Students and Families: Analysis of Statements From One State’s Post-School Outcomes Survey

Abstract

We conducted an exploratory descriptive qualitative study on extant data of responses to the state’s open-ended question from their annual post-school outcomes survey: “ If you could tell your school one thing, what would you tell them (make a suggestion to help better prepare current students for life after high school)?” Respondents from one northwest state consisted of former students with disabilities who had been out of school for 1 year or their designee. We analyzed 1,493 statements using consensual qualitative research–modified (CQR-M) method: a modification of CQR in which large quantities of simple qualitative data are analyzed inductively. Findings clustered in four domains: advice, help, satisfaction, and awareness. Implications for stakeholders and recommendations for further research are provided.