2010 Special Education Data: Changes in Racial/Ethnic Trends, Continued Growth in Autism Enrollments

Read Related Report A new report commissioned by the foundation documents areas in which California is lagging on providing high-quality services for children with special health care needs. The foundation also has established the California Collaborative for Children with Special Health Care Needs to address these issues. Sign up to be part of this work.

We just updated the special education indicators available on kidsdata.org to include 2010 enrollment data for counties and school districts statewide. Updates include:

• Special Education Enrollment (Available by County and School District)
• Special Education Enrollment, by Disability (Available by County)
• Special Education Enrollment, by Race/Ethnicity (Available by County)
• Blog Post: A Closer Look at the Growth in Autism Diagnoses

11% of California's Public School Students Are Enrolled in Special Education

• In 2010, 680,164 of California’s public school students were enrolled in special education, an increase of 3% from 2002. Find local special education enrollment data >>
  

Number of Children with Autism Enrolled in Special Education Tripled from 2002-2010

• In California in 2010, the most common disabilities for students enrolled in special education were learning disabilities (42%), speech or language impairment (25%), autism (9%), other health impairment (8%), and mental retardation (6%). Find special education enrollment data by disability >>
  
  
• The number of students with autism enrolled in special education dramatically increased from 2002 to 2010, from 17,508 to 59,690 students. See related blog post>>

Latino Students in Special Education Increasing, African Americans Decreasing

• Mirroring broader trends in public school enrollments in California from 2002-2010, Hispanic/Latino students now account for about half of all special education students in California, and African American special education enrollments have decreased to about 10%. Although Asian American students represent less than 5% of all special education students, the number of Asian Americans enrolled in special education increased from 26,340 to 31,034 during this period.

Perspective on These Data

• Policy Implications for Special Education
• Why This Issue Matters to the Well Being of Children
• Related Research and Resources

Recently Passed Legislation:

• AB  1841 (Buchanan) – Parental Revocation of Consent for Special Education Services
• AB 184 (Block) – Special Disabilities Adjustment (SDA) Funds
• AB 2160 (Bass) – Teacher Credentialing: Instruction to Pupils with Autism

In the News

• Between a Rock and a Hard Place: County Office of Education to Save Special Education by Making Cuts to General Education
  (Ventura County Reporter, 1/13/11, by Cohn)
  
  
• On Assignment: Mt. Diablo School District Braces for Governor’s Budget Release
  (San Jose Mercury News, 1/9/11, by Harrington)
  
  
• Families Worried Mental Health Cuts Will Send Kids Spiraling
  (Los Angeles Times, 12/28/10, by Kim)
  
  
• Schools Bear Special Education Growth, Costs
  (Bakersfield Californian, 11/28/10, by Barrientos)
  
  
• Special Ed Students Could Bankrupt Districts
  (ABC 7 News- San Francisco, 11/12/10, by Melendez)
  
  

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