The College of Education at Wayne State University in collaboration with Royal Oak Community Schools, proposes to conduct research to;

• Identify self-determination competencies appropriate for instruction at the elementary level,
• Determine the effectiveness of an intervention to increase self-determination in children in elementary grades and,
• Examine the relationship between self-determination and academic achievement.

The Steps to Self-Determination curriculum is an 18-week instructional program developed for students with and without disabilities at the secondary level. It is based on the self-determination model that includes the following components: Know Yourself, Value Yourself, Plan, Act, Experience Outcomes and Learn (Field & Hoffman, 1994).

Through this grant, the Steps model, which includes assessment instruments and instructional interventions, will be modified to meet the needs of children in grades K-5.

The initial phase will include a systematic effort to determine self-determination competencies appropriate to each grade level.

After appropriate competencies have been identified, assessment and instructional modules will be adapted to meet the needs of children in elementary grades.

The instruments and modules will be piloted and field tested in inclusive, resource and specialized settings at the elementary level in Royal Oak (MI) school district. After field- testing, materials will be replicated in another district to address generalization of findings.

Following the completion of this three-year project, information on the self-determination modules and assessment instruments for elementary students will be disseminated.

For more information about this project, please send e-mail to sdtalk@wayne.edu or write to Dr. Sharon Field at Wayne State University, 469 College Of Education, Detroit, MI. 48202.