Resource Library

Data Sources for Calculating Significant Disproportionality provides a summary of the data needed to calculate significant disproportionality for identification, placement, and discipline.  For each category of analysis, this resource  provides a description of the data needed to calculate the risk numerator and risk denominator,  and notes the relevant EDFacts file specifications, including which subtotals or category sets, as appropriate. 

There is a continuous need for state education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) to collect and report comprehensive, high-quality data and ensure they report data accurately and in a timely fashion. The customizable IDC LEA Data Processes Toolkit is a new instrument that can improve decisionmaking about children and youth with disabilities by ensuring data are of high quality and processes are clearly defined and documented, while also providing data staff a map for documenting data processes within local districts.

The TA guide describes the methods a state might use to appropriately determine which of its districts has a significant discrepancy (including a significant discrepancy by race or ethnicity) in the rates of out-of-school suspensions and expulsions totaling greater than 10 days for children with disabilities.

The EDFacts IDEA Discipline Data Infographic provides basic information about the EDFacts file specifications states use to submit IDEA Discipline data to the U.S. Department of Education. The infographic outlines details about Discipline data for children and youth with disabilities ages 3 through 21 that states must include in their annual submission of EDFacts files FS005, FS006, FS007, FS088, FS143, and FS144. 

This resource focuses on recent changes in the data source and measurement of Part B Indicators 1 and 2. The resource specifically addresses the treatment of “alternate diploma” in the new calculation. In FFY 2019, the calculation of graduation rate included students receiving an alternate diploma in the numerator. For FFY 2020–2025 the calculation of graduation rate includes students receiving an alternate diploma in the denominator. The calculation for Indicator 2 remains similar from FFY 2019 to FFY 2020–2025; however, it explicitly adds students receiving an alternate diploma in the denominator. 

This tool from IDC and NTACT calculates graduation and dropout rates using the 618 Exiting data, as OSEP will require in coming years for reporting in states’ SPP/APRs. The tool can accumulate and graph multiple years of data, allowing users to observe trends in the rates over time and share the information easily with stakeholders.