New research helps fill the information gap on services for preschool children with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and federal policy guidance support early identification and intervention for young children with disabilities and encourage the use of inclusive settings to serve them.
On National Special Education Day, we are proud to highlight a comprehensive nationwide study on services for children ages 3 to 5 with disabilities. Our experts conducted this research for the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences to shed light on how young children with disabilities are served. These data can inform researchers, practitioners, and policymakers about the structure of programs for preschool children with disabilities, the prevalence of inclusive settings, use of curricula and interventions, and the characteristics of and supports provided to teaching staff.
Read the report on Characteristics of Preschool Special Education Services and Educators to get the answers to these questions and more:
- How are preschool education programs structured?
- In what environments are 3- to 5-year-olds with disabilities served?
- What is the average percentage of children with disabilities that receive most special education and related services in inclusive classrooms?
- What are the most common barriers to inclusion?
- What curricula, programs, strategies, and practices are used to support instruction of preschool children with disabilities?
- What types of certifications do preschool educators have, and what types of training are available to them?
Special Education Day marks the anniversary of the signing of our nation's first special education law — the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Special Education Day began on December 2, 2005, the 30th anniversary of IDEA.
