Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Study sheds new light on special ed numbers

Study sheds new light on special ed numbers

Jan 13, 2005 - 07:40:28 CST

By SHEENA DOOLEY, Bismarck Tribune

North Dakota education officials say the state's growth in special education students compares to national figures, but is still cause for concern.

The North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities released results of a study showing the state's special needs population isn't increasing as rapidly as once thought and falls below the national average. North Dakota Department of Public Instruction officials say they still find the numbers troubling because of the state's overall decline in enrollment.

Special needs children only account for 12 percent of North Dakota's total enrollment, which was the same as the national average, the study showed. In the last 20 years, the number of special education students increased by 34 percent. The national average rose 57 percent.

"It's not as dire as it would seem," said Bryce Fifield, co-director of the study. "Things don't really look as bad as they first did when we started."

Special education students receive assistance in the classroom for conditions ranging from speech impairments to attention deficit hyper activity disorder to mental retardation.

DPI prompted the study in October after consecutive years of declining enrollment and significant gains in its special education population. They said the pattern put them out of sync with the rest of the country.

The study looked at special education enrollment throughout the state in the last 20 years and broke it down by region and specific disability categories to identify trends. They also examined the effect of early intervention programs for children aged 0-3 on special education numbers.

"Once you ask these questions, it opens the doors for us discussing them," said Bob Rutten, North Dakota's special education director. "It's like putting together a big puzzle to try and understand why families and schools are seeing this increase."

The state set itself apart from national trends because of declines in certain special education categories. Special education is broken into 13 categories of disabilities. North Dakota saw a 32 percent decrease in mentally retarded children and an almost 40 percent decrease in students with hearing impairments.

"I can't account for that," said Brent Askvig, co-director of the study. "It's odd and unusual and we need to keep watching that."

Prior to the study, education officials thought autism was one of the state's largest growing categories. But it was not one of the four disabilities that accounted for the state's increase in special education. Instead, speech language impairments, other health impairments, emotional disturbance and learning disabilities gained the most students.

The age of children receiving special education services shifted in the last 20 years, according to the study. The largest age group of special needs students was 6- to 11-year-olds in 1982. Currently, the largest group is 12- to 17-year-olds. Askvig said that shows early intervention programs in the state are making a difference.

Rutten said the study is the first step in finding out what's driving the increase. The state needs to further examine the problem and look at issues, such as how special education students are identified, to see if they are mislabeled.

"This is an affirmation of some inklings we had," Rutten said. "We feel we are on more solid footing as we analyze these state trends."

(Reach reporter Sheena Dooley at 250-8225 or sheenadooley@ndonline.com.)

News > Local

Printer friendly version Study sheds new light on special ed numbers

Comments

sister wrote on Dec 12, 2007 11:03 PM:

" your missed dearly buddy. "

guess wrote on Feb 13, 2007 12:19 PM:

" Thanks for putting MY efforts into the paper. You rock. No Alyysa, this is my idea. "

Alyssa Roller wrote on Jan 1, 2007 10:27 PM:

" hey . thanks for putting that sweet article in the news paper i just love when people can read about me ! well thanks love : alyssa roller "

Question? wrote on Dec 30, 2006 9:52 AM:

" How come is the school improvement director for DPI not a licensed teacher? Is this a patern the State Superintendent of Public Instruction has been doing for years? I've heard rumors to that effect. It would be nice if someone would check this out - and not only in the school improvment department. I think the State Superintendent should be held to the same standard as public schools are held to in North Dakota. Currently when schools hire teachers who do not have a current North Dakota Teacher's License, someone (the teacher) pays a fine ( I think it is about $ 100. per day.) I think what is good for the goose is good for the gander. DPI should be held to the same standard as teachers and the schools. "

Correction wrote on Dec 30, 2006 9:38 AM:

" The article states that "The plan provides further details to state assessments, which are currently given to fourth-, eighth- and 12th-graders and will eventually be expanded to other grades." This is incorrect. For the past 2 years the state assessments were administered to students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11. Twelfth grade students haven't been assessed for 3 years. "

Let's do it!! wrote on Oct 19, 2006 5:34 PM:

" Lets give back the whole state to the Native Peoples of this land. It's there's anyway!! "

Buck wrote on Aug 30, 2006 9:59 AM:

" Or whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaat! "

Kristin wrote on Aug 24, 2006 2:09 AM:

" Well i was searching for my friend Kelly Winn the snow boarder i meant from the max air show at a Carnival in Carbondale IL... i use to work with Harris Exoitics and we were set up right behind him... Kelly and i kept in touch for a while after but i guess i know why the letters stopped now. you know it sucks to have had to find out this was. i still thought of him from time to time hoping one day we'd see eachother again i cant believe i had to find out this way years later what had a happen. RIP Kelly. Im just sorry it took me this long to find out.. "

ummyeah wrote on Aug 16, 2006 10:39 AM:

" These comments aren't even about the article. Wow. "

washingtongirl1 wrote on Aug 3, 2006 3:30 AM:

" Wow! These comments don't even seem to apply...? Far too confusing for those who read, to even try to care. Hmmm, who screens this anyway? "

L33tmaster wrote on Jul 28, 2006 7:51 AM:

" I hate the government. They have no right to tell me what I can or can't do. I'll gamble online whenever i damn please. "

hunkpapa wrote on May 24, 2006 9:32 AM:

" The Gaming Division of North Dakota need to furhter investigate this man. He has been given a license to steal just as he did at Standing Rock. Banks accounts and other financial information needs to be collected and examined on how he was able to obtain the funds to purchase the establishment in Fargo. One would believe it was from the money that was obtined from the Standing Rock Tribe. Be where of this individual. "

Shannon wrote on May 16, 2006 11:49 AM:

" Whay happpend to this women is unbelivable but the article was to discriptive of the scene. Yes, we are curois about the events that surrounded her murder but to what extent? Could you emagine if you read about your grandmother this way.... what would be your feelings then?! "

berber wrote on May 8, 2006 6:50 PM:

" what is another bird in the pelican family "

kathy toohey wrote on May 4, 2006 12:26 AM:

" I never fully understood the vital lifeline that Greyhound is, or was according to the article. It is somewhat confusing, you don't know if they are going or coming back. All of the stories are everyday stories and these are the ones that should be heard, and considered in such a decision, community, and communities that were all connected by this one bus line, and the jobs that were connected with this company, to rid these individuals of this one required mode of transportation is totally uncalled for and should be rectified immediately. We have to remember what we are dealing with here, humans who by helping them, they help one another, and it continues on,and all concerned will benefit and they will make their money, they have to remember maybe their pockets are to full and might need some individuals to be held accountable for the reasons that this is happening at all. "

Bob Armentrout wrote on Apr 17, 2006 9:21 AM:

" Just a quick note, my wife (who is from the La Crosse, WI area) and I saw about 200 white pelicans on the Mississippi River, just south of Stoddard WI. She told me she had never seen pelicans in this area before. We saw the flock first on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006. Today, April 17, the flock has scattered some, mostly appearing to be in breeding pairs. If we see any nesting, we will post additional comments. "

Post Your Own Comment

All online comments are limited to 350 words total.
Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.
We value and respect your privacy, but The Bismarck Tribune might
disclose certain information to governmental entities if served with subpoena.