The digest presents recent statistics regarding educational services for handicapped children, including data on who is being served, how that population is changing, and what trends are affecting special education today. The report answers the following questions: how are handicapped children defined for purposes of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975? What handicapping conditions are being served? Where are these students receiving their special education (regular classes, resource rooms, special classes, special schools, or hospital/homebound environments)? How many teachers are needed? What students with handicaps are dropping out? The last section identifies two major trends in special education today--the provision of services to young children with handicaps, and more training in vocational skills as well as programs to assist in the transition from school to community life. (DB)