Department of Education Publishes Annual Report to Congress on IDEA
This week, the U.S. Department of Education published the 43rd annual report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as required by section 664(d) of the legislation. The report details the progress made towards providing a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities at the state and national level during the 2018-2019 school year.
Key national findings reveal an increase in the percentage of infants and toddlers from birth through age two served under IDEA, Part C from 2.8% in 2010 to 3.7% in 2019. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and Hispanic/Latino infants and toddlers had the greatest likelihood of all racial/ethnic groups of being served under IDEA, Part C. The report also details where infants and toddlers received early intervention services, with 96.9% receiving services in home or community-based settings.
The report discusses findings for children and students ages 3 through 21 served under IDEA, Part B, noting that 97.7% of full-time equivalent personnel providing services to these children and students were fully certified. Of the 11 categories of related services personnel, the only category below 96.5% in full certification was interpreters with 90.0% full certification.
During the 2018-2019 school year, the Department found that 11 in 10,000 children served under Part B required a unilateral removal to an interim alternative education setting by school personnel for drugs, weapons, or serious bodily injury. Of those removed, children and students most often fell under the category of emotional disturbance in 2018 as opposed to any of the other disability categories. Data on out-of-school suspensions or expulsions and in-school suspensions for children and students served under IDEA, Part B are also noted.
Among additional data highlighted in the report are complaint processing and mitigation for the 2018-2019 school year, segmented by type of complaint: written and signed complaints, due process complaints, and mediation requests.