Transition Request for Collaboration Info and Forms, Partners for Progress, Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, Gallaudet University

		Gallaudet University Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center announces PARTNERS FOR PROGRESS REQUEST FOR COLLABORATION Design And Implementation of a Longitudinal Graduate Follow-Up Study With Collaborating Program and Development of Instructional Materials To Facilitate Transition Skills In Deaf and Hard Of Hearing High School Students APPLICATION INFORMATION
Deadline for application: 2/15/99 Selections announced: 4/1/99

This section contains specific details on how the collaboration will work, including roles and responsibilities of the Clerc Center and the collaborating programs. Also included are instructions for applying and a description of the review and selection process.

What are the responsibilities of the Clerc Center and
Selected Programs in this Collaboration?
Representatives from collaborating programs will be involved in all aspects of both projects including design, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of the results. Roles and responsibilities differ for the Longitudinal Graduate Study and the Transitional Instructional Package. Some responsibilities are defined in this application, and others are negotiable. Since the Longitudinal Graduate Study and the Transitional Instructional Package follow very distinctive paths to completion, roles and responsibilities of the Clerc Center staff and that of the commitments required for collaborating programs are described separately for each project. In addition to responsibilities in the two projects, a program applying for this collaboration with the Clerc Center must make the following two overall commitments to the collaboration:

An administrative commitment from the collaborating program to participate in both the Longitudinal Graduate Study and the Transitional Instructional Package from April 1999 to completion of both projects in Summer 2002. the Clerc Center makes the same multi-year commitment to the selected collaborating programs with the understanding that for administrative and budgetary purposes the commitment at all institutions may be renewed annually.
A representative of the administration as well as the program representatives working with the Clerc Center on both projects will attend a one to two day orientation meeting about the collaboration in the Spring of 1999.

Longitudinal Graduate Study

Purpose
The Longitudinal Graduate Study for each collaborating program will provide program evaluation information to administrators and educational staff about the effectiveness of their transition program in preparing students for postsecondary education and employment. The information gathered by the school from its alumni in this study will be considered confidential and for use by the collaborating program to improve its transition programming. the Clerc Center’s primary interest for the study is to gain information about how useful the process is to the collaborating program.

Required parameters
The Longitudinal Graduate Study used at MSSD constitutes the basic study design that then may be modified to meet the needs of the collaborating program. However, several broad parameters of the study will be required. The study must be a longitudinal design focusing on alumni from the three most recent graduating classes. In-depth interviews must be a major component used. The number of graduating classes and the size of samples will be adjusted to meet the goals of the collaborating program, but it is anticipated that there will be no fewer than 15 interviews per year.

Possible modifications
The questions on the interview protocol may be modified to reflect the specific information sought by the collaborating program. In order to meet collaborating program evaluation or accountability needs beyond those that can be met through interviewing a representative sample of graduates from selected classes, a brief survey of additional students may be added.

Negotiated roles and responsibilities
Numerous tasks will need to be performed to implement the study. Ideally, the collaborating programs and the Clerc Center will be equally involved in performing those tasks. However, some tasks are more appropriately implemented by the Clerc Center or the collaborating program. One such task is contacting and interviewing alumni. This task is better performed by the collaborating program, and the Clerc Center is asking programs to accept this responsibility as part of the collaboration. Providing support for the costs involved in carrying out the alumni contacts and interviews will be part of the negotiation process.

Other tasks such as design of the study, interpretation and utilization, and reporting are likely to be joint activities. the Clerc Center will provide technical support to facilitate the implementation process of the study in areas such as training of interviewers, transcribing, and analysis. The specific roles and responsibilities of each collaboration will be negotiated in initial meetings in the Spring of 1999. the Clerc Center will also provide financial support up to $30,000 a year for each year of the study. While it is the intent of the Clerc Center to provide most of the financial support for this study, some costs may exceed $30,000 per year. In this situation, the contribution in financial support or services from the collaborating program will be part of the negotiation.

Commitments for the Longitudinal Graduate Study

Following the orientation meeting, administrative representatives and program representatives of collaborating programs will participate with the Clerc Center staff in initial meetings in the Spring of 1999 to determine goals and design of the study; financial, personnel, and service contributions to the collaboration; and roles and responsibilities to implement the study.
Administrative representatives of collaborating programs will participate in periodic meetings to review progress.
Collaborating programs will provide sufficient staff to contact and interview selected alumni from specific classes.
Collaborating programs will provide sufficient space, equipment, and logistic support to carry out the interviews at or near their school.
Administrative and other staff from MSSD and the collaborating schools will periodically participate in meetings and other activities to evaluate the process and explore common themes or patterns they may have found in the longitudinal follow-up interview information.
Other roles and responsibilities as agreed upon in the initial or follow-up meetings with the Clerc Center and the collaborating programs.

Transitional Instructional Product

This project will be developed and evaluated by two groups working together—the Core Production Team, which is made up of the Clerc Center staff, and the Advisory Group. The Advisory Group will include a representative from each of the collaborating programs; experts in transition, instructional design, and evaluation; and the Clerc Center staff involved with project coordination. The representation from each collaborating program must be a person who is directly involved with the transition programming at the school they represent. The Advisory Group will review plans and progress and make recommendations for future direction. The Advisory Group will meet periodically with the Core Production Team that conducts the day-to-day implementation of the project.

Commitments for the Transitional Instructional Product
The collaborating program will provide released time, not to exceed 12 days per calendar year for the length of the project, so that the program representative can carry out these five responsibilities:

Attend the orientation session.
Review materials prior to the Advisory Group meetings.
Participate in all Advisory Group meetings.
Coordinate testing of materials in either a one-semester pilot or evaluation study at the collaborating school with staff and students using the school’s VCRs, television monitors, and overhead projectors as necessary.
Work with the Longitudinal Graduate Study staff to arrange contact with alumni for the Transitional Instructional Package.

This project is scheduled to be completed in the Fall of 2001. The tentative schedule for program representatives’ participation requiring released time is as follows:

1998-99—up to five days	2000-01—up to 12 days
1999-00—up to 12 days	2001-02—up to three days

the Clerc Center will assume responsibility for costs related to the production of the product and the participation of the collaborating program in this project which include: travel, interpreters, materials, and postage.

Tentative Timeline
The two projects, the Longitudinal Graduate Study and the Transitional Instructional Package will operation on separate schedules within the same time frame. A tentative schedule for each of the projects is illustrated in the table below.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR TRANSITION COLLABORATION
	Transitional Instructional Package		Longitudinal Graduate Study
Year	the Clerc Center	Collaborating Program	the Clerc Center	Collaborating Program
1998-99	preliminary organizational and logistic work joint planning begin first prototype tapes	first Advisory Group meetings	1st year of MSSD Longitudinal Graduate Study interviewing analyzing
1999-00	joint planning continue taping informal trials at MSSD	Advisory Group meetings pilot study at one program liaison with Graduate Study staff for alumni contacts	2nd year of MSSD Longitudinal Graduate Study interviewing analyzing	1st year of collaborator's Longitudinal Graduate Study interviewing analyzing
2000-01	joint planning continue taping analysis of pilot study	Advisory Group meetings evaluation study at one program liaison with Graduate Study staff for alumni contacts	3rd year of MSSD Longitudinal Graduate Study interviewing analyzing final report utilization plan	2nd year of collaborator's Longitudinal Graduate Study interviewing analyzing
2001-02	joint planning analysis of evaluation study final production COMPLETE IN FALL	Advisory Group meetings COMPLETE IN FALL	evaluation of process joint identification of common patterns COMPLETE IN SUMMER	3rd year of collaborator's Longitudinal Graduate Study interviewing analyzing final report utilization plan COMPLETE IN SUMMER

What Are the Application Requirements?

A program description narrative (no more than 15 double-spaced typewritten pages) responding to the questions listed under Program Description Narrative (see next column). The word “program” is used to mean the school or schools in a district or state covered by this application. Optional—copies of any existing materials describing the program, such as brochures or information sheets for visitors may also be attached to the narrative.
Completed application forms including the following:
- current student summary form
- graduate summary form
- application form (include signatures) The forms are the last pages in these application materials.
Curricula Vita for applicants who will be participating in the collaboration, including
- Program representatives who will be on the Transitional Instructional Package Advisory Group;
- Administrative repesentatives who will negotiate the Longitudinal Graduate Study goal and roles and responsibilities.
- Program representative who will be responsible for interviewing the alumni. The same person can be the program representative for both projects if that arrangement is more convenient for the collaborating program.
A letter of commitment to support the program’s participation in the collaboration from the administrative officer with the authority to allocate resources and make commitments for the institution.
Permission for the Clerc Center staff to visit the program on-site at their own expense as part of the selection process.

Send six copies of all materials, including the optional brochures or information sheets.

Program Description Narrative
Applications to collaborate with the Clerc Center in the Longitudinal Graduate Study and the Transitional Instructional Package must include a narrative description of the program. The description should be no more than 15 pages, double spaced. Additional attachments are the Current Student and Graduate Summary Forms and the application form, curricula vitas, the letter of commitment, the agreement to the on-site visit, and optional materials. These attachments are not part of the 15-page limit. The program description narrative should address each of the following questions. Responses to each question in the following outline should be numbered to assist in the review of the applications.

Explain why your program would like to collaborate with the Clerc Center in the Longitudinal Graduate Study and the Transitional Instructional Package.
Describe the geographic region and the students your program serves including information about the the Clerc Center target groups.
Describe the educational settings in which deaf and hard of hearing high school students are served in your program.
Describe the program’s approach to transtion programming for the deaf and hard of hearing students you serve.
Thinking about the career goals of the five most recent graduating classes and the current high school population, describe any changes in student characteristics. What are the program implications, if any?
Describe how your program keeps in contact with deaf and hard of hearing alumni.
Describe the program evaluation goals for your transition program that might be met through your participation in this collaboration.
What experiences or qualifications does your program and/or staff have that would enrich the collaboration if your program were selected?

What Is the Review and Selection Process?

Initial screening
Each application will first be screened by the Clerc Center to make sure all the necessary application materials have been received. As a result of the screening, additional information may be requested to complete the application.

Review
Each application will then be reviewed by a team of reviewers. A minimum of three external reviewers with experience and expertise in transition programming will review each application. The reviewers will assess the potential of the program to fulfill the roles and responsibilities of the collaboration. They will consider the scope of the transition programming, the clarity of program evaluation goals, student and alumni profile information, and special contributions the program might make to the collaboration.

Selection
The the Clerc Center Selection Committee, primarily composed of the Clerc Center personnel, will review the results of the reviewers and consider information such as geographic location, educational setting, and target population served. The committee will make recommendations to the vice president of the Clerc Center.

An on-site visit to the program from the Clerc Center staff may be requested as part of the final selection process. the Clerc Center staff will want to observe the instructional areas in session, tour the transition facilities, and meet with all administrative and program staff listed on the application form.

The vice president for the Clerc Center will make the final selection. All programs will be notified about the status of their applications by April 1, 1999.

When Is the Application Deadline?

Application Checklist

Six copies of each:

	Program description narrative (up to 15 double-spaced pages) Optional: six copies of materials describing the program such as, brochures or visitor information sheets
	Letter of Commitment from Program Administrator
	Completed Forms Current Student Summary Recent Graduates Summary Application Form (including signatures)
	Curriculum Vita of Administrator and Program Representative(s)

Completed application forms and program descriptions with the required letter of commitment, curricula vitae, and any optional materials should be submitted to:

Gary Hotto
Office of Exemplary Programs and Research
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
Gallaudet University
KDES PAS-7
800 Florida Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002-3695

Applications may be submitted by mail or by Fax to (202) 651-5435.

If you have a question, contact Gary Hotto by mail at the above address or by phone (202) 651-5504 (V/TTY). His e-mail address is: partners.pcnmp@gallaudet.edu

Completed application materials must be received by the Clerc Center’s Office of Exemplary Programs and Research before 5:00 p.m.., February 15, 1999, or be postmarked on or before the deadline date, and received in time to be included in the initial review process. A dated receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service may also be used as proof of timely mailing. Late applications will be returned without being included in the review and selection process.

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