The Maryland Department of Education has been awarded a $7.5 million federal grant to help students with disabilities prepare for college and the workforce.
The grant announced Monday by the U.S. Department of Education will help fund the Maryland Work-Based Learning Collaborative, a project that will study 400 students in eight school districts and attempt to determine whether certain interventions and programs are effective. For example, it will attempt to determine whether students with disabilities are more successful if they have multiple work-based learning experiences, or paid employment.
"Students with disabilities need to have strong transition plans and goals to leave high school ready for college and careers," U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. said in a statement. "These awards will help states implement evidenced based, work-based learning models to help break down barriers to employment."
California, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont were also awarded grants for similar initiatives.