The purpose of this document is to explore the drivers for reorganization, the common experiences shared by states and the challenges and successes experienced. The goal is to inform staff in other special education units as they consider reorganization. This activity was undertaken as part of an agreement between Project Forum at the National…

In 2004, nearly 30,000 students were included in the blind or visually impaired (B/VI) category (approximately .04% of the total public school population). This figure, however, only includes children and youth for whom blindness or visual impairment is identified as a primary disability. States indicate that these numbers may actually double or…

According to state-reported data at www.ideadata.org, approximately 90,000 or 1.5% of all students with disabilities were publicly placed in private day and residential settings in 2004. All categories of disabilities are represented by these publicly placed students to some extent. However, the following categories were represented at a higher…

Reflecting the need for updated, comprehensive and accurate information, the Special Education Expenditure Project was included in a series of studies mandated by Congress in 1997 to measure and evaluate the impact of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). SEEP was the first comprehensive, nationally representative study…

Youth with disabilities are significantly overrepresented in the juvenile justice system with recent estimates suggesting that at least 35% of youth in the juvenile justice system are eligible for special education services (Quinn, Rutherford, Leone, Osher & Poirer, 2005). Specific learning disability, emotional disturbance and mental…