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Education

UCP’s Education Channel provides resources for parents, teachers, and others involved in the education of students with disabilities and other special needs.

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Education

For Families

Public School Statistics 101

Nearly 13 percent of public school students--or about 5.9 million kids--were enrolled in programs for the disabled in the 1997-98 school year, according to a US Education Department study. That's up 8 percent from the 1976-77 year. Researchers attribute much of the increase to the proportion of students identified as learning disabled.

Percentage of public school students enrolled in programs for the disabled:

1976-77 1997-98
All disabilities 8.3 12.8
Learning disabled 1.8 5.9
Speech or language 2.9 2.3
Mental retardation 2.2 1.3
Emotionally disturbed 0.64 0.98
Hearing impaired 0.2 0.15
Other 0.56 2.17

Source: Washington Post, 3/6/01
Washington Post Sources: US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics 1999