US Special Education Report Card -2023 - IDEA Compliance - Summary for states and territories - less than 50% are compliant after 48 years - full details available at Disability Almanac
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IDEA Compliance Report Card – 2023

How well are we educating our disabled children in the US?

It is a hard question to answer, but we can use US Department of Education data to make a start. This is the first part of the Disability Almanac report on the state of Special Education in the US for 2023.

IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, was passed in 1975 – 48 years ago. Yet, this year, in 2023, only 23 US states and territories are actually in full compliance with the law (see IDEA History).

We come a long way since it wasn’t even required to educate “Disabled Learners” before IDEA passed, but we still have a long way to go. IDEA compliance, and strengthening IDEA itself, is a key foundation for progress.

What is IDEA Compliance?

IDEA Compliance is not a measure of whether a state is doing a good job of educating its disabled children, but it measures how well the state complies with data reporting and VERY minimal performance requirements.

IDEA Compliance is like passing the written test for your driver’s license – it doesn’t mean you are a good driver, but at least you know the rules of the road.

This is not a high bar.

Every year, the US Department of Education reviews data from each US state and territory and responds with a letter to address the 2 major parts of IDEA:

  • Part B – for students 3 to 21 – through high school. IDEA doesn’t yet address college, vocational, or technical schools
  • Part C – for children under 3 – early intervention programs

The states receive a letter along with one of 5 “grades”:

  • Meets the requirements and purposes of IDEA;
  • Needs assistance in implementing the requirements of IDEA (first year);
  • Needs assistance in implementing the requirements of IDEA for more than 2 years in a row;
  • Needs intervention in implementing the requirements of IDEA;
  • Needs substantial intervention in implementing the requirements of IDEA.

This year, the report came out from the Department of Education on 26 June 2023 – 2023 DETERMINATION LETTERS ON STATE IMPLEMENTATION OF IDEA.

In the summer when no one is thinking about school.

Didn’t you hear about it?

It didn’t get much press.

The number of states and territories that are “in compliance” was pretty abysmal. So, I went back through the data available online and pulled together a cumulative “report card” for the US and each state. I hope this spurs some discussion and, more importantly, meaningful change.

2023 US IDEA Compliance Summary Report Card

US Special Education Report Card 2023 - IDEA Compliance by State Listed by year 2023 back to 2017 For School Age Children (3-21) IDEA Compliant - 23,30,23,22,21,22,25 Needs Assistance 1 year - 6,9,9,7,8,7,6 Needs Assistance 2+ years - 29,17,20,26,28,26,28 Needs Intervention - 2,0,0,5,3,5,1 For Infants and Toddlers (age
US Special Education Report Card 2023 – IDEA Compliance by State 2017 to 2023

2023 State and Territory Status Summary

IDEA Part B – School Age Children Ages 3 to 21:

Meets requirements:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • New Jersey
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Republic of the Marshall Islands
  • Rhode Island
  • South Dakota
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Needs Assistance – 1 year:

  • Georgia
  • Maine
  • New Hampshire
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Virginia

Needs Assistance – 2+ years:

  • Alaska
  • American Samoa
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  • Delaware
  • District Of Columbia
  • Guam
  • Hawaii
  • Iowa
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Puerto Rico
  • Republic of Palau
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virgin Islands

Needs intervention:

  • Bureau of Indian Education
  • Federated States of Micronesia

IDEA Part C – Infants and Toddlers under Age 3:

Meets requirements:

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Georgia
  • Kansas
  • Nebraska
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Puerto Rico
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Needs assistance 1 year:

  • Alaska
  • Colorado
  • District of Columbia
  • Idaho
  • Kentucky
  • Massachusetts
  • Maryland
  • Maine
  • Minnesota
  • North Carolina
  • Nevada
  • Pennsylvania

Needs assistance 2+ years:

  • American Samoa
  • California
  • Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Guam
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Rhode Island
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virgin Islands

Needs intervention:

  • Indiana
  • Mississippi

Sigh, this probably needs a chart.

Top US States and Territories for IDEA Compliance 2017 to 2023

US Special Education Report Card -2023 - IDEA Compliance - Bottom States The following 9 states have been fully compliant with IDEA for the past 7 years (2017 to 2023) - Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming
US Special Education Report Card -2023 – IDEA Compliance – Top States

Bottom US States and Territories for IDEA Compliance 2017 to 2023

US Special Education Report Card -2023 - IDEA Compliance - Bottom States 15 US states and 4 territories haven't been in full compliance with IDEA ever during at least the last 7 years (2017 to 2023) Alaska, American Samoa, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Calfironia, Colorado, Commonwealth fo the Norther Mariana Islands, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Lousiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexixo, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Virgin Islands
US Special Education Report Card -2023 – IDEA Compliance – Bottom States

Why Red for Needs Assistance 2+ years?

I tagged the states that need assistance for more than 1 year as this is a good indicator of an ongoing problem. States that are in full compliance with IDEA tend to stay there and those that “need assistance” for 2 or more years also tend to stay there.

The existing reporting loses the important information that states that need assistance for any length of time tend NOT to get better.

Again, IDEA Compliance is not a high standard. It is fulfilling the basic bureaucratic mandates of IDEA.

(On a personal note, it is particularly distressing as a Californian to see my state not ever being in full compliance with IDEA during the period of available online reports.)

It should be disheartening to all of us that 48 years after this law – which provides minimum protections and support for educating our disabled learners – passed; we have so few states and territories actually complying with its basics.

Alabama IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Alabama 2023 For School Age Children (3 to 21) In Compliance - 2023 Needs Assistance 1 year - 2018 Needs Assistance 2+ years - 2022,2021,2020,2019 For Infants and Toddlers (Age
IDEA Compliance Report Card Alabama for 2023

Alaska IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Alaska 2023 - complete table does not fit it Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Alaska for 2023

American Samoa IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for American Samoa 2023 - complete tabled does not fit it Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card American Samoa 2023

Arizona IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Arizona 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Arizona for 2023

Arkansas IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Arkansas 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Arkansas 2023

Bureau of Indian Affairs IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Bureau of Indian Affairs 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Bureau of Indian Affairs 2023

California IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for California 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card California 2023

Colorado IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Colorado 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Colorado 2023

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Northern Mariana Islands 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Northern Mariana Islands 2023

Connecticut IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Connecticut 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Connecticut 2023

Delaware IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Delaware 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Delaware 2023

District of Columbia IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for District of Columbia 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card District of Columbia 2023

Federated States of Micronesia IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Federated States of Micronesia 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Federated States of Micronesia 2023

Florida IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Florida 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Florida 2023

Georgia IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Florida 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Georgia 2023

Guam IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Guam 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Guam 2023

Hawaii IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Hawaii 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Hawaii 2023

Idaho IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Idaho 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Idaho 2023

Illinois IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Illinois 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Illinois 2023

Indiana IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Indiana 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Indiana 2023

Iowa IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Iowa 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Iowa 2023

Kansas IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Kansas 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Kansas 2023

Kentucky IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Kentucky 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Kentucky 2023

Louisiana IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Louisiana 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Louisiana 2023

Maine IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Maine 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Maine 2023

Maryland IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Maryland 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Maryland 2023

Massachusetts IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Massachusetts 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Massachusetts 2023

Michigan IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Michigan 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Michigan 2023

Minnesota IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Minnesota 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Minnesota 2023

Mississippi IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Mississippi 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Mississippi 2023

Missouri IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Missouri 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Missouri 2023

Montana IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Montana 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Montana 2023

Nebraska IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Nebraska 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Nebraska 2023

Nevada IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Nevada 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Nevada 2023

New Hampshire IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for New Hampshire 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card New Hampshire 2023

New Jersey IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for New Jersey 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card New Jersey 2023

New Mexico IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for New Mexico 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card New Mexico 2023

New York IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for New York 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card New York 2023

North Carolina IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for North Carolina 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card North Carolina 2023

North Dakota IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for North Dakota 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card North Dakota 2023

Ohio IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Ohio 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Ohio 2023

Oklahoma IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Oklahoma 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Oklahoma 2023

Oregon IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Oregon 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Oregon 2023

Pennsylvania IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Pennsylvania 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Pennsylvania 2023

Puerto Rico IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Puerto Rico 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Puerto Rico 2023

Republic of the Marshall Islands IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Republic of the Marshall Islands 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Republic of the Marshall Islands 2023

Republic of Palau IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Republic of Palau 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Republic of Palau 2023

Rhode Island IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Rhode Island 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Rhode Island 2023

South Carolina IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for South Carolina 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card South Carolina 2023

South Dakota IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for South Dakota 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card South Dakota 2023

Tennessee IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Tennessee 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Tennessee 2023

Texas IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Texas 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Texas 2023

Utah IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Utah 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Utah 2023

Vermont IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Vermont 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Vermont 2023

Virginia IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Virginia 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Virginia 2023

Virgin Islands IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Virgin Islands 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Virgin Islands 2023

Washington IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Washington 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Washington 2023

West Virginia IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for West Virginia 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card West Virginia 2023

Wisconsin IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Wisconsin 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Wisconsin 2023

Wyoming IDEA Compliance Report Card for 2023

IDEA Compliance Report Card for Wyoming 2023 - complete table does not fit in Alt tag. please contact Disability Alamanac for full details
IDEA Compliance Report Card Wyoming 2023

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References

2023 Determination Letters on State Implementation of IDEA

2022 Determination Letters on State Implementation of IDEA

2021 DETERMINATION LETTERS ON STATE IMPLEMENTATION OF IDEA

2020 DETERMINATION LETTERS ON STATE IMPLEMENTATION OF IDEA

2019 Determination Letters on State Implementation of IDEA

2018 Determination Letters on State Implementation of IDEA

Department releases 2017 Determination Letters on state implementation of IDEA

State Performance Plans (SPP) Letters and Annual Performance Report (APR) Letters

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