Who We Serve

The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) serves a number of audiences. Its primary audience is state departments of education (including special education, assessment, English language development, accountability, and curriculum) in the 50 states and in the 10 unique states that receive U.S. special education funds. In addition, NCEO and its related projects provide technical assistance and information for policymakers, educators, and parents.

NCEO provides technical assistance and information on the inclusion of all students in comprehensive assessment systems. This will improve the education of all students, but especially students with disabilities, English learners, and English learners with disabilities.

Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities include students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and those who have a 504 accommodations plan. In grades K-12, students with IEPs account for about 13% of the school-age population. Accurate counts of students with 504 plans are not available, but some studies have indicated that they comprise 1% or less of the school-age population.

Students with disabilities who have IEPs may be identified as having one or more of 13 disability categories recognized in federal policy (see Figure 1 below). 

The percentages of some of the disability categories change with grade level. For example, speech language impairments are more prevalent in the earlier grades. Data on numbers of students in the categories of disability are collected each year through a child count process.

Students with disabilities who have IEPs may be identified as having one or more of 13 disability categories recognized in federal policy (see Figure 1 below). 

The percentages of some of the disability categories change with grade level. For example, speech language impairments are more prevalent in the earlier grades. Data on numbers of students in the categories of disability are collected each year through a child count process.

Figure 1. Percent of Students Ages 6 through 21 Served Under IDEA, Part B by Disability Category*

Percent of Students Ages 6 through 21 Served Under IDEA, Part B by Disability Category

*Other disabilities combined includes developmental delay (2.8%), multiple disabilities (2.0%), hearing impairments (1.0%), orthopedic impairments (0.5%), traumatic brain injury (0.4%), and visual impairments (0.4%), and deaf-blindness (less than 0.03%).

Data source: Child Count and Educational Environments 2019-20, data were extracted on 6/4/2021. Population: only includes age 6-21 in 50 states.

English Learners

English learners include students who are progressing toward English language proficiency so that they can meaningfully access curriculum in the English language. Federal data indicate that approximately 9% of K-12 students are English learners. The number of English learners is growing. Included are those students –

  • whose native language is other than English or whose English language proficiency has been affected by another language or languages as a result of bilingualism or multilingualism, regardless of whether they were born in the United States or abroad, and
  • whose difficulties in speaking, listening, reading, or writing in the English language may be sufficient to deny them the ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction and assessment is English.

Percentages of English learners in states vary significantly. Federal data indicate that English learners constituted anywhere from 1% to 21% of a state’s student population.

English learners also vary in the languages and cultures they represent in the United States. Analyses of the top five languages across states point to the extensive diversity of English Learners.

English Learners with Disabilities

English learners with disabilities include students who are progressing toward English language proficiency and who have disabilities for which they receive services or supports through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 accommodation plan. Federal data in 2019-20 indicate that English learners with IEPs account for about 12% of all students with IEPs. English learners with IEPs include those students –

  • whose native language is other than English or whose English language proficiency has been affected by another language or languages as a result of bilingualism/multilingualism, regardless of whether they were born in the United States or abroad,
  • whose difficulties in speaking, listening, reading, or writing in the English language may be sufficient to deny them the ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction and assessment is English, and
  • whose disabilities represent one or more disability categories (autism, deaf blind, developmental delay, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment and deafness, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, other health impairment, orthopedic impairment, specific learning disability, speech language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairment and blindness).

States have widely varying percentages of English learners with disabilities. Federal data indicate a range across states from fewer than 1% to 26% of a state’s population of students with IEPs. Accurate counts of English learners with 504 plans are not available. The population of students identified as English learners with disabilities appears to be growing at a rate faster than the population of English learners.

English learners with disabilities have both language- and disability-related needs that vary for each student. Successful instruction and assessment for English learners with disabilities are contingent on recognizing and addressing their unique needs. Data on numbers of students in the categories of disability are collected each year through a child count process. 

English learners with disabilities who have IEPs may be identified as having one or more of the 13 disability categories recognized in federal policy (see Figure 2 below).

Figure 2. Percent of English Learners Ages 6 through 21 Served Under IDEA, Part B by Disability Category* 

Percent of ELs Ages 6 through 21 Served Under IDEA, Part B by Disability Category

*Other disabilities combined include emotional disturbance (2.0%), multiple disabilities (1.3%), hearing impairments (1.2%), orthopedic impairments (0.6%), traumatic brain injury (0.3%), visual impairments (0.3%), and deaf-blindness (less than 0.02%).

Data source: Child Count and Educational Environments 2019-20, data were extracted on 6/4/2018. Population: only includes age 6-21 in 50 states.