The College of Education at Wayne State University, in collaboration with the Center for Change in Transition Services, North Central Educational Service District, Oakland Intermediate School District, Puget Sound Educational Service District, and Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency, implemented the Steps to Self-Determination model and curriculum in eight school districts in Michigan and Washington. The schools that participated in the project represented culturally and demographically diverse student populations. They received extensive in-service training and technical assistance support from project staff who included Dr. Sharon Field, Dr. Alan Hoffman and Intermediate School District (ISD) curriculum consultants.

Promoting self-determination was an integral theme in curriculum development through

• the process used to plan for implementation of the curriculum, which included involvement and input by students,
• the strategies used to implement the curriculum, and
• additional modifications that were made in classroom instruction and structure to support curriculum efforts.

The process used to implement the curriculum in each local district included collaboration between school district staff, students, parents and adult service providers.

The project was also involved in state-wide dissemination of the model, and curriculum and assessment instruments in each state. This was coordinated with the state education agencies and the state transition systems change initiatives.

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