What's New

VISIONS XIX Call for Presentations!

The Florida Division of Career Development and Transition (FDCDT) is now accepting presentation proposals for VISIONS XIX, "212 Degrees: Making the Difference in Transition," May 2-4, 2012, at the Renaissance International Hotel in Tampa. Proposals are due March 2, 2012, and the selection committee will notify lead presenters of its decision by March 16, 2012. Lead presenters will receive $25 off the registration fee. For more information on submitting a proposal, see http://www.project10.info/files/VISIONSXIXCallforPres.docx.


Project 10 E-News Now Available!

The inaugural issue of Project 10 E-News is now available in an on-line version at http://www.project10.info/files/P10EnewsVol1No1.Final3.pdf. A printable version is also available at http://www.project10.info/files/P10EnewsVol1No1.Printable.pdf. The monthly e-newsletter will provide short information summaries and resource listings, as well as national, state and regional news, related to secondary transition.


Hold the Dates for the 2012 National Transition Conference

The Department of Education’s 2012 National Transition Conference will focus on College and Careers for Youth with Disabilities and is scheduled for May 30 to June 1 in Washington DC. The conference is sponsored by the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and is supported by the New England TACE Center at the Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston. The call for papers will go out in late February, and registration will be available online in March 2012.


Pasco County Schools in the News

Read about Pasco County Schools' Splash! Water Resources Education Projects at http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/news/article/1742 and the Mickens Specialty Cards school-based enterprise at Moore-Mickens Education Center at http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/elves-at-moore-mickens-busy-creating-holiday-cards-and-cheer/1207084


West Central Region 4 Winter Institute Registration Now Open

The Project 10 Region 4 Winter Institute will be held from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at Aparicio-Levy Technical Center in Tampa. The focus will be on improving postsecondary outcomes (employment, postsecondary education, and training) for youth with disabilities. There is no registration fee, but space is limited, so all meeting attendees must submit a completed registration form as soon as possible. For more information, please contact Freddy Valadez at fvaladez@mail.usf.edu.  


South Region 5 Winter Institute Registration Now Open

The Project 10 Region 5 Winter Institute will be held from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at the Broward School District’s South Area Office located in the Sawgrass Technology Park in Sunrise.  The focus will be on postsecondary options for students with disabilities from the perspective of speakers from postsecondary education, vocational rehabilitation, and workforce development. There is no registration fee, but space is limited, so all meeting attendees must submit a completed registration form as soon as possible. For more information and to register, please see the following:
Memo: http://www.project10.info/files/Reg5InstMemo2012.docx
Agenda: http://www.project10.info/files/Reg5InstAgenda2012.docx
Registration Form: http://www.project10.info/files/Reg5InstRegistration2012_1.docx


Summary of Performance Online Module Now Available

The third module in the Secondary Transition Online Module Series on the Summary of Performance is now available at http://transition.florida-ese.org/. It is intended to familiarize teachers of exceptional student education and transition staff with the legal basis for the SOP and the benefits of fully developing an SOP. The course takes about two hours and includes directions, with case studies and samples, for completing the Florida SOP template. Upon successful completion of the course and the follow-up activity, the participant will be able to print a certificate that can be submitted to the district for possible in-service points.


Northwest Region 1 Winter Institute Registration Now Open

The Project 10 Northwest Region 1 Winter Institute will feature Jane Silveria, Program Supervisor with Career and Adult Education, who will provide the most current information on Career and Technical Education. There is no registration fee, but space is limited, so all meeting attendees must submit a completed registration form as soon as possible. Attendees may select one of two meetings: 1) Thursday, February 16, 2012, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm EST at FDLRS Miccosukee, Aquilina Howell Instructional Center, 3955 West Pensacola Street, Tallahassee, FL 32304 or 2) Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm CST at FDLRS/PAEC, 753 West Boulevard, Chipley, FL 32428. For more information and to register, please see the registration form at http://www.project10.info/files/Reg1InstRegistration2012(1).docx and the memo/agenda at http://www.project10.info/files/Reg1InstMemoAgenda2012(1).pdf.


New Report on College and Unemployment Released

The Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University has released a new report, Hard Times: College Majors, Unemployment and Earnings, that found that “college is the best alternative for young people, but what you study has serious implications for your employment prospects.” Read the 17 page report at http://www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/Unemployment.Final.pdf.   


BEESS Guidance on Dual Enrollment of TPSID Students Released

A December 9, 2011 memo from Cathy Bishop, Interim Chief of the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, discusses issues related to the dual enrollment of students participating in TPSID programs, specifically whether they are eligible for the waiver of tuition, fees, and books. Read the memo at http://www.project10.info/files/DualEnrollmentandTPSID.pdf.


New Resource for Involving Families in Dropout Prevention

The Harvard Family Research Project has a new resource to help schools and community organizations identify 9^th graders who are at risk of dropping out and develop a plan to keep them in school. The Family Engagement for High School Success Toolkit: Planning and implementing an Initiative to Support the Pathway to Graduation for At-Risk Students is available at http://www.hfrp.org/family-involvement/publications-resources/the-family-engagement-for-high-school-success-toolkit-planning-and-implementing-an-initiative-to-support-the-pathway-to-graduation-for-at-risk-students


Who’s Who in Florida Transition

Do you know someone who has contributed greatly to the field of secondary transition? Would you like to formally recognize his or her efforts? Well, now you can through “Who’s Who in Florida Transition,” a collaborative project between the Florida Federation of the Council of Exceptional Children’s Division on Career Development and Transition (FL-DCDT), and Metamorphosis, a School-Based Enterprise run by students of the Atlantic Technical Center Career Placement Service. 

Individuals who are nominated will receive a formal award certificate, and their accomplishment(s) will be posted on the FL-DCDT website. You can locate an electronic copy of this nomination form, and view the nomination list at http://www.coe.fau.edu/CentersAndPrograms/fldcdt/.

For more information, please contact:  Debra H. Oistacher, Teacher/Career Placement Facilitator, Atlantic Technical Center, Office (754) 321-5217, email: debra.oistacher@browardschools.com or Lori A. Garcia, Ph.D., Vice-President, Florida Division on Career Development and Transition, office/cell: (850) 543-9919, email: lorigarcia@mail.usf.edu. 


Fall and Winter Institute Presentations Available in Conference Presentations

Presentations and handouts from the Northeast Region 2 Fall Institute and the East Central Region 3 Winter Institute are now available on the Conference Presentations page at http://www.project10.info/ConferencePresentations.php. The Region 2 Institute was held November 15, 2011, at Santa Fe State College's Northwest Campus in Gainesville and focused on postsecondary options for students with disabilities. The Region 3 Institute was held January 17, 2012, at the Brevard Public Schools Board Room in Viera and focused on Indicator 14 and postsecondary options. Additional materials will be added as they are received.


Jordan Knab Appointed to State Commission

Governor Rick Scott has appointed Jordan Knab, Ed.S., to the Commission on Jobs for Floridians with Disabilities. Jordan is the Principal Investigator and Director of Project 10: Transition Education Network and Principal Investigator of the Florida Consortium on Postsecondary Education and Intellectual Disabilities and the SEDNET Statewide Administration Project. The new Commission supersedes the Florida Governor's Commission on Disabilities. For a complete list of appointees, go to http://www.flgov.com/2011/10/31/governor-rick-scott-appoints-13-to-commission-on-jobs-for-floridians-with-disabilities/


2012 AFB and FAER Conferences Scheduled

The 2012 American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Leadership Conference and the Florida Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (FAER) State Conference will be held at the Tradewinds Island Resorts in St. Pete Beach from May 4-5, 2012. Topics will include leadership challenges, new technology, education of people who are visually impaired, and cutting edge rehabilitation tips. For more information go to www.afb.org/leadershipconference.