IDEA Factsheet - 3 - Where Do Students With Disabilities Usually Receive Education Services?

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Mia

IDEA requires schools to provide transition planning and individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities, including support that builds independent-living skills. During the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures disrupted services for millions of students receiving special education under IDEA. This factsheet summarizes IDEA 2018–19 data on where students ages 3–5 and 6–21 are educated across different disability categories and education environments, including state differences.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Where students with disabilities usually receive education services

IDEA requirements and remote learning challenges

Ages 3–5: education environments and disability categories

Ages 6–21: education environments and service settings

IDEA FACTSHEET: \#3 WHERE DO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES USUALLY RECEIVE EDUCATION SERVICES? The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that schools assist students with disabilities to develop independent living skills and abilities essential to succeed inmost of their life’s endeavors. According to the law, each student with a disability must have an individualized education program (IEP), and the IEP must address transition services. Transition planning is required in the IEP for students by age 16; many students begin this planning at age 14 or earlier so that they have the time to build skills they will need as adults. The coronavirus pandemic caused at least 123,000 public and private schools to close across the U.S. School closures affect more than 50 million students, including 7 million students ages 3–21 who receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). With prolonged school building closures, school districts are faced with more challenges about how to provide remote learning for students with disabilities while complying with civil rights and disability laws. Education environment, namely where a student with a disability is served and educated, is an important component in the student’s individualized education program (IEP) . As online learning opportunities continue to expand, particularly during the recent school building closures, educators may need to reexamine each student’s IEP, work with parents and families, determine whether and how students with disabilities can access and progress in the online curriculum. They will need to figure out the best approaches and long-term strategies to continue students’ special education. By increasing awareness of where students with disabilities receive their instruction, school leaders can work with teachers, specialists, and parents to make evidence-based policies and develop effective strategies to support the learning of each student with a disability. For this purpose, the Center for Public Education (CPE) reports the 2018-19 IDEA data from the U S Department of Education regarding the following topics: (1) Where do students ages 3-5 with different disabilities usually receive their education services? (2) Where do students ages 6-21 with different disabilities usually receive their education services? (3) How do education environments for students with disabilities differ by states? FACTSHEET \#3 WHERE DO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES USUALLY RECEIVE EDUCATION SERVICES? Figure 1. Number of students with disabilities ages 3-5 served under IDEA in different education environments and the highest percentage of disability categories served in the education environment Home (15,735 children) Residential facility (420 children) Separate class (182,389 children) Separate school (17,572 children) Service provider location (51,683 children) Services in other locations than early childhood program (at least 10 hours per week) (140,383 children) Services in other locations than early childhood program (attend less than 10 hours per week) (36,184 children) Services in regular early childhood program (attend less than 10 hours per week) (43,083 children) Services in regular early childhood program (attend at least 10 hours per week) (327,561 children) • 47%, developmental delay • 35%, speech or language impairment • 36%, developmental delay • 27%, speech or language impairment • 12%, multiple disabilities • 50%, developmental delay • 23%, autism • 16%, speech or language impairment • 52%, developmental delay • 14%, autism • 13%, speech or language impairment • 81%, speech or language impairment • 11%, developmental delay • 60%, speech or language impairment • 25%, developmental delay • 7%, autism • 43%, speech or language impairment • 32%, developmental delay • 14%, autism • 39%, speech or language

FAQs

What does IDEA require schools to provide for students with disabilities?

IDEA requires each student with a disability to have an individualized education program (IEP) and to receive transition services. Transition planning is required in the IEP starting by age 16, often beginning earlier to develop needed adult skills.

How were education environments for ages 3–5 summarized in the factsheet?

For 815,000 students with disabilities ages 3–5, the factsheet reports shares across settings such as regular early childhood programs, separate classes, and other locations. It also highlights the top disability categories served, including speech or language impairment, developmental delay, and autism.

What education environment is most common for students ages 6–21?

For 6.32 million students with disabilities ages 6–21, most are served inside a regular classroom. The largest share receives services in a regular classroom for 80% or more of the school day.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Mia