Product Description:
The 1997 National Survey of State Special Education Directors is the sixth in a series of surveys that have been conducted by NCEO since 1991. Among its
findings are the following:
- In general, states are placing high levels of emphasis on the foundational stages of statewide educational reform, and most state special education
divisions or units report being very involved with these efforts.
- Only 32 regular and unique states report having readily available information on the numbers of students with disabilities who participate in any of their statewide assessments. Even among those that report having such data, some states were unable to provide them.
- State directors point to the altruistic motivations of parents and teachers and high stakes for schools as the leading factors that inhibit greater participation of students with disabilities in assessment programs.
- Out of the 20 states that indicate some type of activity underway for alternate assessments, only two states are implementing such assessments at the present time. All others are at various stages of development, from initial discussions to more formal planning efforts.
- Data gathered on students with disabilities are not publicly reported in most states, but are used for internal review.
- Very few states have any formal process by which assessment results for students with disabilities are used for curricular or instructional decision-making at the state or local level.
- Only six states currently require Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs) to document the linkage between a student's individual goals and objectives,
and the state's content or curriculum standards.
- Most states do not measure non-academic outcomes for students with disabilities.
These findings highlight the current status of students with disabilities within the context of educational reform. They also reinforce the need to continue to survey state directors of special education about the status of state special education outcomes.
Available online at: http://www.cehd.umn.edu/nceo/onlinepubs/1997statereport/97statesurvey.pdf
