Spotlight on: GraduateFIRST

Georgia's GraduateFIRST program has redefined the state's approach to raising graduation rates for students with disabilities with dramatic results-an increase of 37 percent in four years.

Click on the attachment below to access the Student Performance and Achievement (SPA) Prority Team Spotlight Brief which is intended to provide State Education Agency (SEA) and Local Education Agency (LEA) educators with a brief overview of the key components of graduateFIRST, a Georgia program targeting issues impacting school completion for students with disabilitites.

GraduateFIRST: The Dropout Prevention Destination Webinar

Webinar participants will hear how schools have redesigned programs, adopted new practices, and implemented research-based strategies to become highly successful in preventing students with disabilities from dropping out of school.

Click on the attachments to access the Webinar flyer, the presentation powerpoint and accompanying handouts.

2012 State Personnel Development Grant(SPDG) Best Practice Forum

  Attachments are provide for Best Practice Forum (Feb. 2012) PowerPoint presentations and accompanying handouts.

   

2011 GraduateFIRST Institute Documents

The PowerPoint presentations and handouts for The 2011 Fall GraduateFIRST Institute are listed below.  You can also find these as well as additional forms, including the Facilitator Guides for the DVD Training Series, on the website.

North Star Project-Video Clip

Dr. Linda Curry, Director of Middle Georgia GLRS, discusses the North Star Project.  Students develop their "North Star" plan which is a visual representation of the path he/she wants to follow to reach those goals/ objectives.

2011 GraduateFIRST Fall Institute

Georgia Department of Education

Division for Special Education Services and Supports

announces the

2011 GraduateFIRST Fall Institute

Central Georgia Convention Center

Forsyth, GA

 

September 26-27, 2011

9:00 AM-4:00 PM

 

Active Student Participation Inspires Real Student Engagement(ASPIRE)-Colleen Lambert-Video Clip

As an ASPIRE consultant, Colleen Lambert, encourages students to take a more active role in their Individual Education Program (IEP).  Through the collaboration between the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Developmental Disabilities Council, school personnel and families are working together to build self advocacy skills in students with disabilities.

Creating Communities of Practice-Catherine Fowler, Project Coordinator (NSTTAC)-Video Clip

Catherine Fowler, Project Coordinator, National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC) reflects on Georgia's positive efforts at achieving better post secondary outcomes through creating a system of interagency collaboration and implementing evidence based practices.

Parent Mentor Role-Ms. McClary-Video Clip

Ms. Wausheka McClary, the Parent Mentor for Elbert County School District, discusses her role in building relationships with parents and emphasizing the importance of graduation.