Author: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (ED)

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 284

ISBN-13:

Since its enactment, the "Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975," Public Law (P.L.) 94-142, requires the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (secretary) [and predecessor, the commissioner of education at the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare] to transmit to Congress an annual report to inform Congress and the public of the progress being made in implementing the act. The annual reports to Congress reflect a history of persistent commitment and effort to expand educational opportunities for children with disabilities. In December 2004, Congress reauthorized the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act" ("IDEA") (P.L. 108-446), which was signed into law in the same month. The provisions of "IDEA" became effective on July 1, 2005, with the exception of some of the elements pertaining to the definition of a "highly qualified teacher" that took effect upon the signing of the act. With reauthorization of "IDEA," the nation reaffirmed its commitment to improving the early intervention and educational results and functional outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youths with disabilities (collectively this group may be referred to in this report as children with disabilities). The "37th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the 'Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,' 2015" describes our nation's progress in: (1) providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for all children with disabilities and early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families; (2) ensuring that the rights of these children with disabilities and their parents are protected, (3) assisting states and localities in providing for the education of all children with disabilities; and (4) assessing the effectiveness of efforts to educate children with disabilities. The report focuses on the children and students with disabilities being served under "IDEA," Part C or B, nationally and at the state level. In particular, Part C of "IDEA" provides funds to states to assist them in developing and implementing statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary interagency systems to make early intervention services available to all children from birth through age 2 with disabilities and their families, whereas Part B of "IDEA" provides funds to states to assist them in providing FAPE to children ages 3 through 21 with disabilities who are in need of special education and related services. Throughout this report, infants and toddlers served under "IDEA," Part C, children served under "IDEA," Part B, and students served under "IDEA," Part B, refer to individuals with disabilities who receive services under "IDEA," Part C or Part B. "Special education services," which is referenced throughout this report, is a term that is synonymous with services provided under "IDEA," Part B. Similarly, "early intervention services" is a term used synonymously with services provided under "IDEA," Part C. This "37th Annual Report to Congress, 2015" follows the "36th Annual Report to Congress, 2014" in sequence and format, and it continues to focus on "IDEA" results and accountability. Similar to the "36th Annual Report to Congress, 2014", the "37th Annual Report to Congress, 2015" contains six major sections that address the five annual report requirements contained in section 664(d) of "IDEA." The sections are: (1) a summary and analysis of "IDEA" section 618 data at the national level; (2) a summary and analysis of "IDEA" section 618 data at the state level; (3) a summary and analysis of the U.S. Department of Education's (Department's) findings and determinations regarding the extent to which states are meeting the requirements of "IDEA," Parts B and C; (4) a summary of special education research conducted under Part E of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002; (5) a summary of national special education studies and evaluations conducted under sections 664(a) and (c) of "IDEA"; and (6) a summary of the extent and progress of the assessment of national activities, which focus on determining the effectiveness of "IDEA" and improving its implementation. The content of this report differs from that of the "36th Annual Report to Congress, 2014" in the following ways: (1) the most recent data presented in this report represent the reporting periods associated with fall 2013 or school year 2012-13; (2) where data are presented for a 10-year period, the oldest data are associated with fall 2004; (3) this report directs the reader to http://www2.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/index.html for a more complete and detailed description of the manner in which states differed in the reporting of data; and (4) this report includes an exhibit that presents the risk ratios for students ages 6 through 21 served under "IDEA," Part B, within racial/ethnic groups by disability category. Unlike the "36th Annual Report to Congress, 2014," this report does not include an appendix that identifies the states that reported children and students ages 3 through 21 with multiple disabilities in different disability categories in the most recent data collections regarding child count and educational environments, exiting, and discipline. The following are appended: (1) Infants, Toddlers, Children, and Students Served Under "IDEA," by Age Group and State; (2) "Developmental Delay" Data for Children Ages 3 Through 5 and Students Ages 6 Through 9 Served Under "IDEA," Part B; and (3) "IDEA," Part B Maintenance of Effort Reduction and Coordinated Early Intervening Services. [For the "36th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the 'Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,' 2014," see ED557419.].