TO ASSURE THE FREE

APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION OF ALL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 618

Twenty-fourth Annual Report to Congress

on the

Implementation of the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

U.S. Department of Education

2002

DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED

No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, or be so treated on the basis of sex under most education programs or activities receiving Federal assistance.

No otherwise qualified individual with disabilities in the United States shall, solely by reason of his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

TO ASSURE THE FREE

APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION OF ALL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 618

Twenty-fourth Annual Report to Congress

on the

Implementation of the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

U.S. Department of Education

2002

This report was produced under U.S. Department of Education Contract No. HS97020001 with Westat. Judith Holt served as the contracting officer’s technical representative.

U.S. Department of Education

Rod Paige

Secretary

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)

Robert H. Pasternack

Assistant Secretary

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

Stephanie Smith Lee

Director

2002

This book is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. While permission to reprint this report is not necessary, the citation should be U.S. Department of Education, Twenty-fourth annual report to Congress on the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Washington, D.C., 2001.

To order copies of this report,

write to: ED Pubs, Education Publications Center, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398;

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Contents

Contents

Page

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...... xxi

I.CONTEXT/ENVIRONMENT

Special Education Teacher Quality...... I-1

Study Methods...... I-1

Limitations of SPeNSE for Measuring Teacher Quality...... I-2

Correlates of Teacher Quality...... I-3

An Aggregate Teacher-Quality Measure...... I-8

Next Steps: Testing the Model Using Student Achievement Data...I-9

Summary...... I-10

What Are We Spending on Special Education Services in the United
States, 1999-2000?...... I-19

A Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Special Education
Spending...... I-19

Total Spending on Students With Disabilities...... I-20

Allocation of Special Education Expenditures...... I-27

Allocation and Use of Federal Funds...... I-32

Future Reports...... I-35

Children With Disabilities in Low-Income Families: An Analysis of
Data From the ECLS-K...... I-37

Poverty and Child Development...... I-38

Summary of the Literature Review...... I-44

Methods...... I-45

Results...... I-46

Discussion...... I-52

Use of the Developmental Delay Classification for Children Ages 3
Through 9...... I-57

Changes in Numbers of Children Served...... I-61

Summary...... I-63

II.STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS

Infants and Toddlers Served Under IDEA...... II-1

The Number of Children Served Under IDEA, Part C...... II-1

Race/Ethnicity of Infants and Toddlers Served...... II-3

Early Intervention Service Settings for Infants and Toddlers With
Disabilities...... II-4

Contents (continued)

Page

Transition to Part B...... II-6

Summary...... II-6

Preschoolers Served Under IDEA...... II-9

Number of Preschoolers Receiving Special Education Services....II-9

Disability Categories of Preschool Children Served Under IDEA..II-10

Educational Environments for Preschoolers With Disabilities....II-12

Educational Environments by Race/Ethnicity...... II-12

Race/Ethnicity of Preschoolers Served Under IDEA...... II-13

Disability Distribution by Race/Ethnicity...... II-14

Summary...... II-15

Students Ages 6 Through 21 Served Under IDEA...... II-19

Students Served Under IDEA by Disability Category...... II-19

Age-Group Distribution...... II-21

Race/Ethnicity...... II-21

Summary...... II-24

A Changing Population: Individual and Household Characteristics
of High School Students With Disabilities...... II-25

Students’ Disability Profiles...... II-27

Students’ Demographic Characteristics...... II-29

Characteristics of Students’ Households...... II-30

Differences in Rates of Change Between Disability Categories....II-36

Conclusion...... II-43

III.PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Ensuring an Adequate Supply of High-Quality, School-Based
Speech-Language Pathologists...... III-1

Issues of Quantity...... III-2

Issues of Quality...... III-7

Summary and Implications...... III-13

Social Adaptation and Problem Behaviors of Elementary and Middle
School Students Receiving Special Education...... III-17

Social Skills and Social Adaptation...... III-19

Problem Behaviors and Disciplinary Actions...... III-27

Conclusion...... III-38

Contents (continued)

Page

Educational Environments for Students With Disabilities...... III-43

Trends in the Data...... III-44

Factors Associated With Different Educational Environments...III-44

Summary...... III-47

Study of State and Local Implementation and Impact of the
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act: A View From
the Field of District Implementation...... III-49

Introduction...... III-49

The Analytic Design of Focus Study I...... III-50

Focus Study I Results...... III-53

Factors Affecting the Progress of District Implementation...... III-62

Summary...... III-65

  1. RESULTS

High School Graduation Among Students With Disabilities...... IV-1

Graduation and Dropout Rates for Students With Disabilities....IV-1

Graduation and Dropout Rates by Disability...... IV-2

Graduation and Dropout Rates by Race/Ethnicity...... IV-6

Summary...... IV-7

Results Experienced by Children and Families 1 Year After
Beginning Early Intervention...... IV-11

Progression of Children Through Services...... IV-12

Results for Children...... IV-15

Results for Families...... IV-26

Conclusion...... IV-33

State Improvement and Monitoring...... IV-37

Services to Infants and Toddlers Under Part C...... IV-44

Services to Children and Youth Under Part B...... IV-47

Contents (continued)

Page

Appendices

Appendix A. Data Tables

Section A. Child Count Tables

Table AA1Number of Children Served Under IDEA, PartBbyAge Group, During the 2000-01 SchoolYear A-1

Table AA2Number of Children Ages 3-5 Served Under IDEA,Part B by Disability, During the
2000-01School Year...... A-2

Table AA3Number of Children Ages 6-21 Served Under IDEA,Part B by Disability, During the
2000-01School Year...... A-5

Table AA4Number of Children Ages 6-11 Served Under IDEA,Part B by Disability, During the
2000-01School Year...... A-8

Table AA5Number of Children Ages 12-17 Served
Under IDEA, Part B by Disability, During
the 2000-01School Year...... A-11

Table AA6Number of Children Ages 18-21 Served
Under IDEA, Part B by Disability, During
the 2000-01School Year...... A-14

Table AA7Number of Children Served Under IDEA, PartBbyDisability and Age, During the
2000-01School Year...... A-17

Table AA8Number of Children Served Under IDEA, PartBbyAge, During the 2000-01 School
Year...... A-18

Table AA9Number of Children Served Under IDEA by
Disability and Age Group, During School
Years 1991-92 Through 2000-01...... A-22

Contents (continued)

Page

Table AA10Percentage (Based on 2000 Census
Population) of Children Served Under IDEA, PartBby Age Group, During the 2000-01 SchoolYear A-25

Table AA11Percentage (Based on 2000 Census
Population) of Children Ages 6-21 Served
Under IDEA, PartBby Disability, During
the 2000-01 SchoolYear...... A-26

Table AA12Percentage (Based on 2000 Census
Population) of Children Ages 6-17 Served
Under IDEA, PartBby Disability, During
the 2000-01 SchoolYear...... A-29

Table AA13Percentage (Based on Estimated Enrollment)
of Children Ages 6-17 Served UnderIDEA,
Part B by Disability, During the2000-01
School Year...... A-32

Table AA14Racial/Ethnic Composition (Number and Percentage) of Students Ages 3-5 Served
Under IDEA, Part B by Disability, During the
2000-01School Year...... A-35

Table AA15Racial/Ethnic Composition (Number and Percentage) of Students Ages 6-21 Served Under
IDEA, Part B by Disability, During the 2000-01 School YearA-63

Table AA16Percentage (Based on 2000 Census
Population) of Children Ages 3-5 Served UnderIDEA, Part B by Race/Ethnicity,
During the2000-01 School Year...... A-91

Table AA17Percentage (Based on 2000 Census
Population) of Children Ages 6-21 Served UnderIDEA, Part B by Race/Ethnicity,
During the2000-01 School Year...... A-92

Contents (continued)

Page

Section B. Educational Environments Tables

Table AB1Number and Percentage of Children Ages 3-5
Served in DifferentEducational Environments
Under IDEA,Part B, During the 1999-2000
School Year...... A-107

Table AB2Number and Percentage of Children Ages 6-21 Served in DifferentEducational Environments
Under IDEA,Part B by Disability, During the
1999-2000 School Year...... A-109

Table AB3Number and Percentage of Children Ages 6-11 Served in DifferentEducational Environments
Under IDEA,Part B by Disability, During the
1999-2000 School Year...... A-137

Table AB4Number and Percentage of Children Ages 12-17 Served in DifferentEducational Environments
Under IDEA,Part B by Disability, During the
1999-2000 School Year...... A-165

Table AB5Number and Percentage of Children Ages 18-21 Served in DifferentEducational Environments
Under IDEA,Part B by Disability, During the
1999-2000 School Year...... A-191

Table AB6Number of Children Ages 3-21 Served in
Correctional Facilities and Parent-Initiated
Private Schools Under IDEA, Part B,
During the 1999-2000 School Year...... A-217

Table AB7Number of Children Served in Different
Educational Environments Under IDEA, PartBbyAge Group, During School Years
1990-91 Through1999-2000...... A-218

Table AB8Number of Children Ages 6-21 Served in DifferentEducational Environments Under IDEA,Part B by Disability, During School
Years 1990-91Through 1999-2000...A-220

Contents (continued)

Page

Table AB9Racial/Ethnic Composition (Number and Percentage) of Children Ages 3-5 Served in
Different Educational Environments Under
IDEA, Part B, During the 1999-2000 School
Year...... A-224

Table AB10Racial/Ethnic Composition (Number and
Percentage) of Children Ages 6-21 Served in
Different Educational Environments Under
IDEA, Part B, During the 1999-2000 School
Year...... A-242

Table AB11Number of Children Ages 3-21 Served in
Correctional Facilities and Parent-Initiated
Private Schools by Race/Ethnicity Under
IDEA, Part B, During the 1999-2000 School
Year...... A-264

Section C. Personnel Tables

Table AC1Total Number of Teachers Employed (in
Full-Time Equivalency) To Provide Special
Education and Related Services for Children
and Youth Ages 3-5 With Disabilities,
During the 1999-2000 School Year...... A-269

Table AC2Total Number of Teachers Employed (in
Full-Time Equivalency) To Provide Special
Education and Related Services for Children
and Youth Ages 6-21 With Disabilities,
During the 1999-2000 School Year...... A-270

Table AC3Number and Type of Other Personnel
Employed(in Full-Time Equivalency) To
Provide SpecialEducation and Related
Services for Children and Youth Ages 3-21
With Disabilities by Personnel Category,
During the 1999-2000SchoolYear A-271

Contents (continued)

Page

Section D. Exiting Tables

Table AD1Number of Students Age 14 and Older ExitingSpecial Education, During the
1999-2000School Year...... A-281

Table AD2Number of Students With Disabilities Exiting
Special Education by Age Year, Duringthe
1999-2000 School Year...... A-307

Table AD3Number of Students With Disabilities Exiting
School by Graduation With a Diploma,
Graduation With a Certificate, and Reached
Maximum Age by Age, DuringSchool Years
1990-91 Through 1999-2000...... A-320

Table AD4Racial/Ethnic Composition (Number and
Percentage) of Children Ages 14-21+ Exiting
Special Education, During the 1999-2000
School Year...... A-321

Section E. Discipline Tables

Table AE1Number of Children With Disabilities Subject
to Unilateral Removal by School Personnel
for Drug or Weapon Offenses, Removal
Based on a Hearing Officer Determination
Regarding Likely Injury, or Long-Term
Suspension/Expulsion, During the
1999-2000 School Year...... A-339

Table AE2Percentage of Children (Based on Child
Count) With Disabilities Subject to
Unilateral Removal by School Personnel
for Drug or Weapon Offenses, Removal
Based on a Hearing Officer Determination
Regarding Likely Injury, or Long-Term
Suspension/Expulsion, During the
1999-2000 School Year...... A-353

Contents (continued)

Page

Table AE3Number of Children With Disabilities Subject
to Unilateral Removal by School Personnel
for Drug or Weapon Offenses, Removal
Based on a Hearing Officer Determination
Regarding Likely Injury, or Long-Term
Suspension/Expulsion by Race/Ethnicity,
During the 1999-2000 School Year...... A-367

Table AE4Percentage of Racial/Ethnic Group (Based
on Child Count) With Disabilities Subject to Unilateral Removal by School Personnel for
Drug or Weapon Offenses, Removal Based on
a Hearing Officer Determination Regarding
Likely Injury, or Long-Term Suspension/
Expulsion by Race/Ethnicity, During the
1999-2000 School Year...... A-372

Section F. Population and Enrollment Tables

Table AF12000 Census Population and Estimated
Resident Population for 1990 and 1999 for
Children Ages3-21...... A-377

Table AF22000 Census Population and Estimated
Resident Population for 1990 and 1999 for
Children Ages BirthThrough 2...... A-378

Table AF32000 Census Population and Estimated
Resident Population for 1990 and 1999 for
Children Ages3-5...... A-379

Table AF42000 Census Population and Estimated
Resident Population for 1990 and 1999 for
Children Ages6-17...... A-380

Table AF52000 Census Population and Estimated
Resident Population for 1990 and 1999 for
Children Ages18-21...... A-381

Contents (continued)

Page

Table AF62000 Census Population (Number and
Percentage) for Children AgesBirth Through
2 by Race/Ethnicity, for the Reporting Year
2000-01...... A-382

Table AF72000 Census Population (Number and
Percentage) for Children Ages3-5 by Race/
Ethnicity, for the School Year 2000-01.....A-384

Table AF82000 Census Population (Number and
Percentage) for Children Ages6-21 by Race/
Ethnicity, for the School Year 2000-01.....A-386

Table AF9Enrollment for Students in Grades
Pre-Kindergarten Through Twelve...... A-388

Section G. Financial Table

Table AG1State Grant Awards Under Parts B and C
of IDEA...... A-389

Section H. Early Intervention Tables

Table AH1Number of Infants and Toddlers Receiving EarlyIntervention Services, December 1,
2000...... A-390

Table AH2Number of At-Risk Infants and Toddlers
Receiving EarlyIntervention Services
(Duplicated Count), December 1, 2000.....A-391

Table AH3Early Intervention Services on IFSPs ProvidedtoInfants, Toddlers, and Their FamiliesinAccordance With Part C,
December 1, 1999...... A-392

Table AH4Number and Type of Personnel Employed andContracted To Provide Early Intervention
Servicesto Infants and Toddlers With
Disabilitiesand Their Families, December 1,
1999...... A-395

Contents (continued)

Page

Table AH5Number of Infants and Toddlers Ages Birth Through2 Served in Different Early
Intervention Settings Under Part C, December1,1999 A-399

Table AH6Number of Infants and Toddlers Ages Birth
Through 2 Exiting Part C Programs, During
the 1999-2000 Reporting Year...... A-401

Table AH7Racial/Ethnic Composition (Number and
Percentage) of Infants and Toddlers Ages
Birth Through 2 Served Under IDEA,
Part C, December 1, 2000...... A-403

Table AH8Racial/Ethnic Composition (Number and
Percentage) of At-Risk Infants and Toddlers
Ages Birth Through 2 Served Under IDEA,
Part C, December 1, 2000...... A-405

Table AH9Percentage (Based on 2000 Census
Population) of Infants and Toddlers Ages
Birth Through 2 Served Under IDEA,
Part C by Race/Ethnicity, December 1, 2000.A-407

Table AH10Number and Percentage of Infants and
Toddlers Ages Birth Through Age 2 by Early Intervention Services Provided by Race/
Ethnicity, December 1, 1999...... A-408

Table AH11Racial/Ethnic Composition (Number and Percentage) of Infants and Toddlers With
Disabilities and Their Families Served Under
Part C by Program Settings in Accordance
With Part C, December 1, 1999...... A-438

Table AH12Racial/Ethnic Composition (Number and Percentage) of Infants and Toddlers Ages
Birth Through 2 Exiting Part C Programs,
During the 1999-2000 Reporting Period.....A-454

1

Contents

List of Tables

Page

Table I-1Variables Included in the Five Teacher-Quality Factors...... I-4

Table I-2Demographic Variables for All Kindergartners With IEPs.....I-47

Table I-3Demographic Variables for Kindergartners With IEPs by
Poverty Status...... I-49

Table I-4Cognitive Assessment Scores and Social Skills Ratings by
Poverty Status...... I-50

Table I-5Total Number of 6-, 7-, 8-, and 9-Year-Old Students With
Disabilities and Number With Developmental Delay for School
Years 1999-2000 and 2000-01...... I-62

Table II-1Percentage of Preschoolers Receiving Services During
2000-01...... II-11

Table II-2Preschool Educational Environments by Race/Ethnicity,
1999-2000...... II-13

Table II-3Disability Distribution by Race/Ethnicity for Preschoolers
Served in 2000-01...... II-15

Table II-4Number of Students Ages 6 Through 21 Served Under
IDEA, During 1991-92 and 2000-01...... II-20

Table II-5Percentage of Students Ages 6 Through 21 Served Under
IDEA by Disability and Race/Ethnicity, During the 2000-01
School Year...... II-22

Table II-6Disability Category Distribution of Youth With Disabilities,
1987 and 2000...... II-26

Table II-7Changes in Age at First Identification of and Service for
Disability, by Cohort...... II-29

Table II-8Changes in the Gender and Racial/Ethnic Distributions of
Students With Disabilities and Students in the General
Population...... II-31

List of Tables (continued)

Page

Table II-9Changes in Household Composition of Youth With
Disabilities and Youth in the General Population...... II-33

Table II-10Changes in Household Socioeconomic Status of Youth With
Disabilities and Youth in the General Population...... II-34

Table II-11Changes in Disability Profiles of Youth With Disabilities, by
Cohort and Disability Category...... II-37

Table II-12Changes in Racial/Ethnic Backgrounds and Language Use,
by Cohort and Disability Category...... II-39

Table II-13Changes in Household and Parent Characteristics, by Cohort
and Disability Category...... II-41

Table III-1Percent of School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists
Serving Students With Different Speech-Language
Impairments...... III-5

Table III-2Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perceived Areas of Strengths
and Needs...... III-11

Table III-3Social Skills Ratings of Students With Disabilities...... III-21

Table III-4Students’ Social Skills, by Age and Gender...... III-24

Table III-5Students’ Social Skills, by Income and Race/Ethnicity...... III-26

Table III-6Teacher Ratings of Problem Behaviors, by Disability
Category...... III-32

Table III-7Parent Reports of Suspensions and Expulsions, by Disability Category III-34

Table III-8Teacher Ratings of Problem Behaviors, by Age and Gender..III-35

Table III-9Parent Ratings of Suspensions and Expulsions, by Age and
Gender...... III-36

Table III-10Teacher Ratings of Problem Behaviors, Suspensions, and
Expulsions, by Income and Ethnicity...... III-37

List of Tables (continued)

Page

Table III-11Percentage of Students Ages 6 Through 21 With Disabilities by
Race/Ethnicity Served in Different Educational Environments: 1999-2000 III-45

Table III-12Percentage of Students Ages 6 Through 21 With Disabilities
Served in Different Educational Environments: 1999-2000...III-47

Table IV-1Number and Percentage of Students Age 14 and Older With Disabilities Graduating With a Standard Diploma or Dropping
Out, 1999-2000...... IV-5

Table IV-2Change in the Percentage of Students Age 14 and Older With
Disabilities Graduating With a Standard Diploma or Dropping
Out, 1995-96 and 1999-2000...... IV-6

Table IV-3Number and Percentage of Students Age 14 and Older With
Disabilities Graduating With a Standard Diploma or Dropping
Out, by Race/Ethnicity, 1999-2000...... IV-7

Table IV-4Functional Characteristics of Children Entering Early
Intervention and a Year Later by Age Group at Entry...... IV-16

Table IV-5Health Status of Children Entering Early Intervention and a
Year Later by Age Group at Entry...... IV-18

Table IV-6Behaviors of Children Entering Early Intervention and a
Year Later by Age Group at Entry...... IV-21

Table IV-7Milestone Attainment in Motor and Self-Help Domains of
Children Entering Early Intervention and a Year Later by
Age Group at Entry to Early Intervention Services...... IV-24

Table IV-8Milestone Attainment in Communication and Cognition
Domains of Children Entering Early Intervention and a
Year Later by Age Group at Entry to Early Intervention
Services...... IV-25

Table IV-9Families’ Satisfaction With Their Early Intervention Services
at Entry and a Year Later...... IV-28

List of Tables (continued)

Page

Table IV-10Families’ Perceptions of Their Parenting and Their Ability
To Work With Professionals at Entry and a Year Later.....IV-29

Table IV-11Families’ Perceptions of Their Family and Community
Support at Entry and a Year Later...... IV-31

Table IV-12Families’ Perceptions of the Impact of Early Intervention on
the Child and Family and Their Quality of Life at Entry and
a Year Later...... IV-32

Table IV-13Schedule of States’ Continuous Improvement Monitoring
Process...... IV-38

Table A-1State Reporting Patterns for IDEA, Part B Child Count Data
2000-01, Other Data 1999-2000...... A-475

1

Contents

List of Figures

Page

Figure I-1Total Spending on Students With Disabilities Who Are
Eligible for Special Education Services in the United States,
1999-2000...... I-21

Figure I-2Calculation of Additional Expenditure on a Student With a
Disability, 1999-2000...... I-22