Way2Work Maryland¶
Product or Programme · All products and programmes
Evidence · 9 claims (4 for, 3 mixed, 2 against) · 2 studies (1 causal, 1 design),q2–q3· 0 of 2 report an effect size · 9 claims rest on one study
Description¶
A U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration-funded demonstration programme implemented by the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services with the University of Maryland to enhance customized education, vocational rehabilitation, and employment services for high-school students with disabilities.
Components¶
- Way2Work Maryland model of essential services for students with disabilities: Way2Work Maryland is a demonstration model for high school students with disabilities that enhances and customizes education and employment services to improve college and career readiness. Its essential services included "an early referral to the vocational rehabilitation agency, a match to a community rehabilitation provider, opportunities for multiple work experiences, and numerous service collaboration activities." The model was funded by a U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration grant to the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services, with the University of Maryland overseeing implementation and providing training and technical assistance. (Frank Martin et al. (2021))
- Way2Work Maryland program with three major components: early referral, multiple work experiences, and service collaboration: Way2Work Maryland is a transition program for high school students with disabilities developed and implemented by the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services and the University of Maryland. It includes "three major components: early referral to the vocational rehabilitation agency, multiple work experiences, and service collaboration with integrated training and technical assistance." Services were provided through high school graduation or for 16 to 24 months depending on enrollment date. (David Mann et al. (2021))
- Way2Work Maryland impact evaluation: randomized controlled trial with 401 enrolled students and 24-month follow-up: The impact evaluation used a randomized controlled trial design in which the program "randomly offered some participants enhanced Way2Work Maryland services (the treatment group)" while others received usual services (the control group). Between September 2017 and early January 2019 the program enrolled 401 high school students. Data came from follow-up surveys with enrollees and parents conducted 24 months after enrollment, administrative data, and program enrollment data. (David Mann et al. (2021))
Claims¶
- The vocational rehabilitation agency and the University of Maryland implemented the Way2Work Maryland model as designed, and participants received the model services as intended [+W]
- Most Way2Work Maryland participants (92 percent) had at least one work experience, 74 percent had at least two with one paid, and 44 percent had at least three with one paid [+W]
- Participants reported satisfaction with selected Way2Work Maryland service components [+W]
- Service use differed across local school systems in Way2Work Maryland [~W]
- Way2Work Maryland did not affect employment or expectation outcomes as of 24 months after enrollment [-M] — (also cited [+M])
- Control group members had ready access to transition-related services, and Way2Work services may have substituted for existing services [~M]
- Way2Work Maryland increased vocational rehabilitation agency engagement, with almost all treatment group members using agency-provided work-based learning experiences [+M]
- Despite apparent strong implementation, Way2Work Maryland did not generate its intended effects; the report lists five possible reasons [-W]
- Way2Work Maryland did not affect postsecondary education and training outcomes, but more treatment group members completed high school within two years of enrollment [~W] — (also cited [-M]); (also cited [+M])
Related Products and Programmes¶
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Key Sources¶
- Frank Martin, Kathleen Feeney, Todd Honeycutt, David Mann. (2021). Way2Work Maryland Demonstration: Final Implementation Evaluation Report. Mathematica. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/way2work-maryland-demonstration-final-implementation-evaluation-report
- David Mann, Kathleen Feeney, Todd Honeycutt, Marlena Luhr. (2021). Way2Work Maryland Demonstration: Impacts 24 Months After Enrollment. Mathematica. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/way2work-maryland-demonstration-impacts-24-months-after-enrollment
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
product |
id |
way2work-maryland |
title |
Way2Work Maryland |
description |
A U.S. |
status |
review |
moved_from |
element/way2work-maryland-model-essential-services, element/way2work-maryland-program, element/way2work-rct-evaluation-design |
product_kind |
programme |
generated |
by process:sweep-kinds on 2026-10-10 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
2 — frank-martin-2021, david-mann-2021 |
Frontmatter is the page's machine-readable record — see the Schema & Guide.