According to data collected for the 2000-2001 school year, students with disabilities who are ages 6 through 17 constitute 11.5 percent of the total student enrollment for prekindergarten through 12th grade (U.S. Department of Education, 2002, p. II-19). This percentage accounts for nearly 5.5 million children, the majority of whom are educated in the public school setting, rather than in schools devoted exclusively to serving students with disabilities. States report disability data in 13 categories. Table 2-1 provides information on the percentages of students in each of the categories enrolled in schools in the United States and outlying areas (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands).

Students with disabilities who qualify for special education are covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Under this law, these students must be provided with an individualized education plan (IEP), which spells out the goals for each student’s instruction and the kinds of services he or she needs, including the accommodations the student requires for standardized assessments. The student’s education must, by law, be tailored to his or her