Disability Scoop

Over half of states are not living up to their obligations under federal special education law, with many receiving a failing grade from the U.S. Department of Education multiple years in a row. Just 20 states earned a “meets requirements” designation from the Education Department this year for serving students with disabilities ages 3 to 21 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Meanwhile, 26 states were labeled “needs assistance,” including 23 that have received that mark for two or more consecutive years. Another four states and Washington, D.C. were listed as “needs intervention.” The determinations released this summer are the result of a review mandated under IDEA and are based on data from the 2024 fiscal year. Per the law, the Education Department assesses each state’s progress in meeting the law’s expectations annually and assigns them to one of four categories — meets requirements, needs assistance, needs intervention or needs substantial intervention.

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