Decreased Suspensions for Students with Disabilities in Middle Schools

Post date: Mar 25, 2014 8:14:11 PM

A sample of 46 Illinois middle schools that experienced a 10% or greater decrease in ODRs for three years was further examined to investigate impact on out of school suspension (OSS) for students with disabilities.  The schools in this sample recorded 77% fewer OSS events for all students in 2012-13 than in 2010-11 and the students with IEPs experienced 79% fewer OSS events.  Using special education enrollment data (available through 2012) a risk ratio was calculated to determine how much more or less likely a student with an IEP was to receive an OSS than a student without an IEP.  In 2010-11, the risk ratio for students with IEPs in this sample was 1.19, and decreased to 1.11 in 2011-12.*  Although the risk ratio shows that students with IEPs are still slightly over-represented in OSS, relative risk for receiving an OSS for students with IEPs is decreasing over time.  If trends continue, the ratio for students with IEPs will be equitable to the risk experienced by students without IEPs. 

*2012-13 enrollment data for students with IEPs is not yet available.