By the Office of Special Education Programs

OSEP is excited to release a new OSEP Fast Facts: Students with Disabilities who are English Learners (ELs) Served under IDEA Part B, which explore our IDEA, Section 618 data with the specific lens on one of the fastest-growing populations of students with disabilities served under IDEA.

Highlights from OSEP Fast Facts: Students with Disabilities who are English Learners (ELs) Served under IDEA Part B:

• Approximately 1.6% of students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools are dually identified as a student with a disability under IDEA, Part B and an English Learner.
• The number of students with disabilities that are ELs in the U.S. grew by close to 30% between School Year 2012 and School Year 2020. Fifty-one states, outlying areas, and freely associated States saw an increase in the number of students with disabilities served under IDEA, Part B.
• ELs were more likely to drop out of school, less likely to graduate with a regular high school diploma, and more likely to receive a certificate as compared to all students served under IDEA, Part B.
• ELs were more likely to be identified with specific learning disability and speech or language impairment and less likely to be identified with other health impairment, autism, and emotional disturbance as compared to all school aged students served under IDEA, Part B.

OSEP Fast Facts is an ongoing effort to display data from the 12 data collections authorized under IDEA Section 618 into graphic, visual representations with the intent to present 618 data quickly and clearly.

Visit the OSEP Fast Facts page for existing and future Fast Facts.