In Vermont, there is an established culture of collaboration. STW built on this by listening to the concerns of stakeholders, developing plans to address those concerns, and reporting back to stakeholders. Partnership teams attended a STW conference on including youth with disabilities and developed local plans of work that became part of the annual planning and progress review process. Supervisors are supporting personnel from various programs to link with STW as part of their duties. Each school in one partnership has an identified liaison.
Liaisons meet monthly and help disseminate partnership information to teachers in their schools.
Many of these liaisons have a background in disability. The diverse group facilitates training and development for all teachers, as well as cross-disciplinary communication and planning. One local partnership funds supported employment services. Rather, STW is presented as a school improvement effort for all Vermonters. On the other hand, this has led to everyone on state and local levels sharing responsibility and may lead to sustainability.