Children And Education
Students Receiving Special Education Services

Increasing


Students Receiving Special Education Services

What does this measure?

Percent of students (ages 6-21) classified with disabilities and receiving special education services.

Why is this important?

Students receiving special education services can be at greater risk for poor school performance, including lower test scores and a higher chance of dropping out. The proportion of students in special education can significantly affect a school district's budget, as some students may require intensive services. This proportion also can be an indicator of the effectiveness of intervention programs aimed at addressing problems in early years and preventing students from being classified with disabilities.

How does our county compare?

In 2022, 19% of Lancaster County students and 22% of Lancaster School District students received special education services, an increase of 6 percentage points for the County and no change for the School District from 2000 figures. These rates were similar to the state (at 20%) which has seen an increase of 8 percentage points since 2001. Lancaster County and Lancaster School District had higher proportions than the nation, at 15%.

Berks County had a slightly higher proportion of students receiving special education services in 2021 at 23%. Lancaster County was similar to Lebanon (20%), Chester and Dauphin (both at 19%), York (18%), and Cumberland (17%).

Notes about the data

Data are from the National Center for Education Statistics. Varying school district practices on classifying students as having disabilities can impact the numbers. Also, school districts known for effective special education programs may attract more students with disabilities.

Students Receiving Special Education Services
20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Pennsylvania12%13%13%14%14%15%16%16%17%17%16%17%17%17%17%18%18%19%19%20%20%20%
Lancaster County13%14%15%15%16%16%16%16%17%17%17%16%16%16%16%16%17%17%18%18%19%20%19%
Berks County10%11%11%12%13%14%14%15%16%17%18%18%18%19%19%19%20%20%21%22%23%23%23%
Chester County11%11%12%13%13%14%15%16%17%17%17%17%17%17%17%18%18%18%19%19%19%19%19%
Cumberland County12%13%13%13%14%13%14%15%15%15%16%15%15%15%15%15%15%15%15%16%17%17%17%
Dauphin County12%14%13%14%15%16%16%17%17%17%17%17%17%17%16%17%17%18%18%19%20%19%19%
Lebanon County11%12%12%13%13%14%14%15%15%15%16%17%17%17%18%18%19%19%20%20%20%20%20%
York County14%14%14%14%15%16%16%16%17%17%16%16%16%16%16%16%17%17%17%18%18%18%18%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics




Number of Students Receiving Special Education Services
20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Pennsylvania222,584232,056242,837253,129260,909267,682292,649293,865295,028294,592295,077294,963295,501294,997296,959302,540310,244319,733326,985338,355337,846342,042
Lancaster County9,0459,41110,14810,44811,08311,29511,42411,55511,60211,56211,31011,04410,85610,94310,99711,06011,21611,72812,24112,38712,71812,58012,580
Berks County6,4637,0147,4848,1918,7319,4339,92810,97411,11311,83012,48312,69112,92212,93613,02613,11613,29113,63714,09914,85315,33115,05915,059
Chester County6,7277,4128,0408,6539,15610,09010,66611,99212,44512,66012,80513,57813,39813,52313,92714,06614,12414,53815,12915,74515,75916,24516,245
Cumberland County2,9173,1893,2093,3223,4313,4143,5783,9323,8813,8733,9373,8373,8793,8843,8773,9773,9644,0154,0854,3684,6204,6164,616
Dauphin County4,7335,1815,2405,4775,9976,1426,2626,8626,9157,0917,1567,1867,1547,1717,3267,4187,5698,0818,4619,1339,99311,88111,881
Lebanon County1,9142,0942,0762,3212,4232,5802,6422,8862,8972,9113,0473,1273,2033,3363,3633,5173,6503,7673,8513,9343,9593,8923,892
York County8,8358,9409,0919,44110,13110,49810,73711,39211,42211,37411,10211,09910,94310,66410,94210,86711,30811,24011,55311,86412,00311,68411,684

Source: National Center for Education Statistics




INDICATORS TREND
Prekindergarten Participation Increasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
Per-Student Spending Maintaining
Students Receiving Special Education Services Increasing
Rate of Foster Care Admissions Maintaining
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Plans of High School Graduates Not Applicable
Enrollment in Local Colleges Decreasing
College Graduation Rates Decreasing
Brain Drain/Gain Increasing
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Charitable Giving Maintaining
Voter Registration Rate Not Applicable
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Age of Housing Stock Not Applicable
Violent Crime Rate Maintaining
Incarceration Rate Decreasing
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population Density Increasing
Air Quality Decreasing
Water Use Decreasing
Waterways Impaired by Pollution Not Applicable
Change in Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age and Gender Not Applicable
Population by Age Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Decreasing
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Employment by Sector Not Applicable
Sector Share of Total Jobs Not Applicable
Workers by Occupation Not Applicable
Change in Labor Force Decreasing
People Entering/Leaving County/Region for Work Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Since 2000 Increasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Employer Size Not Applicable
Change in Number of Businesses by Sector Increasing
Change in Total Agricultural Sales Increasing
Spending for Local Government Maintaining
Spending for School Districts Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Veterans Living in Poverty Maintaining
Working Poor Maintaining
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch Increasing
Median Home Value Maintaining
Occupied Housing Units Maintaining
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Rent Maintaining
Cost of Renting Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Without Health Insurance Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Health Status Decreasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Adults Who are Overweight or Obese Not Applicable
Mortality Rates Decreasing
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Increasing
Fatal Drug Overdoses Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Increasing
STEM Graduates Maintaining
Science and Engineering Research and Development Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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