Of that group, 50,598 (30.6%) are pulled into segregated settings between 21 and 60% of the school day. Another 3164 children receive education services in settings ranging from institutional and residential school programs to hospital/ homebound programs.

1991 data is in red

2003 data is in blue

Current reality in Georgia

• Over 2,000 school-aged children and youth
in institutions and residential schools.


• Estimated exclusion of over 39,000
students with disabilities through
placement in special
education for more than
60% of school day.

Exclusion
Inclusion


• Few students with
moderate or severe
disabilities are included in
regular classes.

• About 71,000 students spend one
segment per day in special education.

Essentially Full-time in Regular Class

student population

.98 million in 1991
1.4 milllion in 2003

 

students with IEPs

8.4% in 1991
11.8% in 2003 - over 165,000 Georgia students

 

students included in regular classrooms at least 50% of the school day

37.1% in 1991
43.4% in 2003

 

students included in regular classrooms between 21% and 60% of the school day

36.2% in 1991
30.6% in 2003
The following graph shows some of the growth in the student population of Georgia from 1991 to 2003 and the slight shift to more integrated services for those students who have IEPs.

students in residential settings

1.4% in 1991
1.9% in 2003

The discussion above summarizes our extrapolation of information from Georgia's Department of Education. We have made assumptions about the information supplied to us by the Georgia Department of Education in order to make a few comments about inclusion and exclusion of students with special needs in Georgia's public schools. Our experience advocating on behalf of students in about 215 educational situations each year leads us to conclude that our assumptions are fair.

We are told that the most reliable data relate to special education funding. We used data on the percentage of time students spent in special education classes.

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