Special education enrollment climbs to nearly 8M

The number of students with disabilities, ages 3-21, could jump by about 1 million students between 2021 and 2025 if the current rate of increase continues, according to federal data and an analysis by The Advocacy Institute.

By comparison, it took about 20 years — from 1997 to 2017 — to add 1 million students eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, said Candace Cortiella, founder and director of The Advocacy Institute, a nonprofit focused on improving the lives of people with disabilities. Read More