Three-Year Outcomes for Positively and Negatively Discharged EBD Students from Nonpublic Special Education Facilities

Abstract

This paper presents results from a study initiated by a consortium of non-public special education facilities to respond to issues of accountability. Research questions were (a) How do students from the most restrictive therapeutic non-public special education facilities compare with other nationally published studies?; and (b) How do positive and negative discharge students differ in transition experiences after leaving a restrictive therapeutic nonpublic special education facility? Three cohorts of EBD students discharged 1994–1997 from seven non-public special education facilities in Maryland were tracked for three years using a longitudinal panel design with telephone interview surveys. Descriptive results are presented, which indicated that students who received intensive and specialized services in non-public education centers completed/graduated (positive discharges) at a much higher rate than national and regional averages and had lower arrest rates at the end of three years. This sample was most independent at Year 2 (employment, living situation, and related outcomes), but by Year 3, level of independence was lower than Year 1. Limitations and implications of findings are discussed.