Number and percentage distribution of 14- through 21-year-old students served under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B, who exited school, by exit reason, sex, race/ethnicity, age, and type of disability: School years 2020-21 and 2021-22

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Table 219.90.Number and percentage distribution of 14- through 21-year-old students served under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B, who exited school, by exit reason, sex, race/ethnicity, age, and type of disability: School years 2020-21 and 2021-22
Year, sex, race/ethnicity, age, and type of disability	Exited school	Transferred to regular education	Moved, known to be continuing¹
2020-21
Total number	434,914	325,954	42,292	⁵	3,163	61,798	1,707	46,263	134,737
Percentage distribution of total	100.0	74.9	9.7		0.7	14.2	0.4	†	†
Number by sex
Male	281,642	207,363	27,787		2,129	43,176	1,187	29,734	88,771
Female	153,187	118,526	14,507		1,034	18,599	521	16,522	45,925
Number by race/ethnicity
American Indian/Alaska Native	5,695	3,918	250		20	1,481	26	542	1,766
Asian	9,254	7,172	1,341		126	563	52	977	2,228
Black	86,268	61,181	9,489		736	14,386	476	6,860	29,460
Hispanic	115,189	83,301	13,111		543	17,868	366	8,016	31,654
Pacific Islander	1,413	1,014	144		24	223	8	88	482
White	201,147	157,630	16,834		1,610	24,349	724	27,869	63,076
Two or more races	15,989	11,769	1,126		105	2,934	55	1,915	6,078
Number by age⁶
14	3,785	3	1		0	3,537	244	12,291	36,746
15	5,534	60	36		0	5,168	270	10,841	30,425
16	15,841	5,497	339		0	9,659	346	10,739	28,538
17	179,720	150,460	12,438		0	16,480	342	7,926	21,378
18	160,359	128,574	15,616		4	15,912	253	3,018	11,031
19	39,930	27,576	5,156		2	7,066	130	763	4,038
20	17,578	9,085	4,682		943	2,801	67	421	1,653
21	12,197	4,719	4,027		2,214	1,181	56	271	938
Number by type of disability
Autism	43,201	31,488	8,076		775	2,763	99	3,027	11,145
Deaf-blindness	114	71	27		7	4	5	7	31
Emotional disturbance	37,001	24,210	2,156		186	10,293	156	3,998	16,863
Hearing impairment	4,369	3,681	352		18	311	7	462	1,018
Intellectual disability	35,118	17,150	12,052		1,046	4,657	213	1,500	9,888
Multiple disabilities	9,050	4,005	3,240		420	1,034	351	479	2,532
Orthopedic impairment	2,094	1,476	373		29	168	48	152	450
Other health impairment⁷	85,218	66,947	5,162		238	12,493	378	9,147	29,941
Specific learning disability	202,421	163,027	10,032		359	28,618	385	20,568	56,970
Speech or language impairment	12,070	10,480	457		25	1,079	29	6,557	4,955
Traumatic brain injury	2,490	1,914	253		44	251	28	206	525
Visual impairment	1,770	1,507	112		16	127	8	160	419
Number by English learner status
English learner	39,818	28,217	4,534		203	6,732	132	2,143	10,834
Non-English learner	395,093	297,736	37,757		2,960	55,065	1,575	44,118	123,902
2021-22
Total number	464,190	342,842	45,712	⁸	3,148	70,739	1,749	53,895	140,791
Percentage distribution of total	100.0	73.9	9.8		0.7	15.2	0.4	†	†
Number by sex
Male	300,278	218,974	30,182		2,117	47,776	1,229	34,871	90,604
Female	163,685	123,705	15,518		1,031	22,911	520	19,006	50,086
Number by race/ethnicity
American Indian/Alaska Native	5,702	3,927	256		36	1,463	20	736	1,851
Asian	9,641	7,490	1,388		145	582	36	1,172	1,993
Black	92,730	63,240	10,520		711	17,762	497	8,167	32,695
Hispanic	129,106	93,839	14,063		544	20,268	392	9,801	30,696
Pacific Islander	1,565	1,107	164		17	270	7	208	384
White	207,498	160,216	17,991		1,602	26,952	737	31,325	65,872
Two or more races	18,017	13,082	1,332		94	3,448	61	2,493	7,310
Number by age⁶
14	4,354	9	4		0	4,101	240	14,249	34,537
15	6,847	113	26		0	6,410	298	12,640	34,341
16	19,674	6,924	422		0	11,986	342	12,121	31,776
17	198,228	163,902	15,215		0	18,738	373	9,190	23,089
18	166,220	133,197	15,489		0	17,294	240	3,888	10,948
19	38,442	25,336	5,114		3	7,868	121	981	3,696
20	17,635	8,384	5,175		805	3,182	89	421	1,586
21	12,815	4,989	4,268		2,340	1,171	47	413	825
Number by type of disability
Autism	47,216	34,197	8,761		861	3,301	96	3,681	11,939
Deaf-blindness	128	78	32		5	10	3	7	26
Emotional disturbance	39,958	25,367	2,270		170	11,966	185	4,767	17,540
Hearing impairment	4,498	3,773	372		18	331	4	552	1,066
Intellectual disability	36,265	17,507	12,037		1,021	5,457	243	1,625	10,743
Multiple disabilities	9,188	3,704	3,560		447	1,162	315	488	2,542
Orthopedic impairment	1,999	1,415	342		31	166	45	178	420
Other health impairment⁷	94,302	72,484	6,251		213	14,963	391	11,118	32,340
Specific learning disability	213,813	170,625	10,819		289	31,679	401	23,862	59,334
Speech or language impairment	12,425	10,256	830		23	1,292	24	7,196	3,885
Traumatic brain injury	2,564	1,945	274		57	256	32	216	541
Visual impairment	1,832	1,490	164		12	156	10	206	415
Number by English learner status
English learner	48,708	36,024	4,713		210	7,646	115	2,861	10,513
Non-English learner	415,557	306,883	40,999		2,938	63,102	1,635	51,041	130,287
†Not applicable.
¹"Moved, known to be continuing" is the total number of students who moved out of the administrative area or transferred to another district and are known to be continuing in an educational program.
²Received a certificate of completion, modified diploma, or some similar document, but did not meet the same standards for graduation with a regular high school diploma.
³Each state determines its maximum age to receive special education services. At the time these data were collected, the maximum age across states generally ranged from 20 to 22 years old.
⁴"Dropped out" is defined as the total who were enrolled at some point in the reporting year, were not enrolled at the end of the reporting year, and did not exit for any of the other reasons described.
⁵In 2020–21, includes 419 students from four states who exited an educational program through receipt of an alternate diploma.
⁶Age data are as of the most recent child count prior to the students exiting special education, so some students may have been 1 year older at the time they exited school.
⁷Other health impairments include having limited strength, vitality, or alertness due to chronic or acute health problems such as a heart condition, tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, nephritis, asthma, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, epilepsy, lead poisoning, leukemia, or diabetes.
⁸In 2021–22, includes 1,553 students from six states who exited an educational program through receipt of an alternate diploma.
NOTE: Although data are for the 50 states and the District of Columbia, data limitations result in inclusion of a small (but unknown) number of students from other jurisdictions. Includes imputations for missing or unavailable data from Iowa and New Hampshire in 2020–21 and from Iowa in 2021–22. Disability type refers to the specific disability for which a child is receiving services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). If a child has multiple types of disabilities but is receiving services for only one type of IDEA-defined disability, then the child is categorized under that specific disability. If a child is receiving services for more than one type of IDEA-defined disability, then the child is categorized under "multiple disabilities." Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to totals because of reporting anomalies and rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Section 618 Data Products: State Level Data Files. Retrieved October 6, 2023, from https://data.ed.gov/dataset/idea-section-618-data-products-state-level-data-files. (This table was prepared October 2023.)

Table 219.90.Number and percentage distribution of 14- through 21-year-old students served under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B, who exited school, by exit reason, sex, race/ethnicity, age, and type of disability: School years 2020-21 and 2021-22

Year, sex, race/ethnicity, age, and type of disability

Exited school

Transferred to regular education

Moved, known to be continuing¹

Total

Graduated with regular diploma

Received alternative certifi-
cate²

Reached maximum age³

Dropped out⁴

Died

2020-21

Total number

434,914

325,954

42,292

⁵

3,163

61,798

1,707

46,263

134,737

Percentage distribution of total

100.0

74.9

9.7

0.7

14.2

0.4

†

Number by sex

Male

281,642

207,363

27,787

2,129

43,176

1,187

29,734

88,771

Female

153,187

118,526

14,507

1,034

18,599

521

16,522

45,925

Number by race/ethnicity

American Indian/Alaska Native

5,695

3,918

250

1,481

542

1,766

Asian

9,254

7,172

1,341

126

563

977

2,228

Black

86,268

61,181

9,489

736

14,386

476

6,860

29,460

Hispanic

115,189

83,301

13,111

543

17,868

366

8,016

31,654

Pacific Islander

1,413

1,014

144

223

482

White

201,147

157,630

16,834

1,610

24,349

724

27,869

63,076

Two or more races

15,989

11,769

1,126

105

2,934

1,915

6,078

Number by age⁶

3,785

3,537

244

12,291

36,746

5,534

5,168

270

10,841

30,425

15,841

5,497

339

9,659

346

10,739

28,538

179,720

150,460

12,438

16,480

342

7,926

21,378

160,359

128,574

15,616

15,912

253

3,018

11,031

39,930

27,576

5,156

7,066

130

763

4,038

17,578

9,085

4,682

943

2,801

421

1,653

12,197

4,719

4,027

2,214

1,181

271

938

Number by type of disability

Autism

43,201

31,488

8,076

775

2,763

3,027

11,145

Deaf-blindness

114

Emotional disturbance

37,001

24,210

2,156

186

10,293

156

3,998

16,863

Hearing impairment

4,369

3,681

352

311

462

1,018

Intellectual disability

35,118

17,150

12,052

1,046

4,657

213

1,500

9,888

Multiple disabilities

9,050

4,005

3,240

420

1,034

351

479

2,532

Orthopedic impairment

2,094

1,476

373

168

152

450

Other health impairment⁷

85,218

66,947

5,162

238

12,493

378

9,147

29,941

Specific learning disability

202,421

163,027

10,032

359

28,618

385

20,568

56,970

Speech or language impairment

12,070

10,480

457

1,079

6,557

4,955

Traumatic brain injury

2,490

1,914

253

251

206

525

Visual impairment

1,770

1,507

112

127

160

419

Number by English learner status

English learner

39,818

28,217

4,534

203

6,732

132

2,143

10,834

Non-English learner

395,093

297,736

37,757

2,960

55,065

1,575

44,118

123,902

2021-22

Total number

464,190

342,842

45,712

⁸

3,148

70,739

1,749

53,895

140,791

Percentage distribution of total

100.0

73.9

9.8

0.7

15.2

0.4

†

Number by sex

Male

300,278

218,974

30,182

2,117

47,776

1,229

34,871

90,604

Female

163,685

123,705

15,518

1,031

22,911

520

19,006

50,086

Number by race/ethnicity

American Indian/Alaska Native

5,702

3,927

256

1,463

736

1,851

Asian

9,641

7,490

1,388

145

582

1,172

1,993

Black

92,730

63,240

10,520

711

17,762

497

8,167

32,695

Hispanic

129,106

93,839

14,063

544

20,268

392

9,801

30,696

Pacific Islander

1,565

1,107

164

270

208

384

White

207,498

160,216

17,991

1,602

26,952

737

31,325

65,872

Two or more races

18,017

13,082

1,332

3,448

2,493

7,310

Number by age⁶

4,354

4,101

240

14,249

34,537

6,847

113

6,410

298

12,640

34,341

19,674

6,924

422

11,986

342

12,121

31,776

198,228

163,902

15,215

18,738

373

9,190

23,089

166,220

133,197

15,489

17,294

240

3,888

10,948

38,442

25,336

5,114

7,868

121

981

3,696

17,635

8,384

5,175

805

3,182

421

1,586

12,815

4,989

4,268

2,340

1,171

413

825

Number by type of disability

Autism

47,216

34,197

8,761

861

3,301

3,681

11,939

Deaf-blindness

128

Emotional disturbance

39,958

25,367

2,270

170

11,966

185

4,767

17,540

Hearing impairment

4,498

3,773

372

331

552

1,066

Intellectual disability

36,265

17,507

12,037

1,021

5,457

243

1,625

10,743

Multiple disabilities

9,188

3,704

3,560

447

1,162

315

488

2,542

Orthopedic impairment

1,999

1,415

342

166

178

420

Other health impairment⁷

94,302

72,484

6,251

213

14,963

391

11,118

32,340

Specific learning disability

213,813

170,625

10,819

289

31,679

401

23,862

59,334

Speech or language impairment

12,425

10,256

830

1,292

7,196

3,885

Traumatic brain injury

2,564

1,945

274

256

216

541

Visual impairment

1,832

1,490

164

156

206

415

Number by English learner status

English learner

48,708

36,024

4,713

210

7,646

115

2,861

10,513

Non-English learner

415,557

306,883

40,999

2,938

63,102

1,635

51,041

130,287

†Not applicable.

¹"Moved, known to be continuing" is the total number of students who moved out of the administrative area or transferred to another district and are known to be continuing in an educational program.

²Received a certificate of completion, modified diploma, or some similar document, but did not meet the same standards for graduation with a regular high school diploma.

³Each state determines its maximum age to receive special education services. At the time these data were collected, the maximum age across states generally ranged from 20 to 22 years old.

⁴"Dropped out" is defined as the total who were enrolled at some point in the reporting year, were not enrolled at the end of the reporting year, and did not exit for any of the other reasons described.

⁵In 2020–21, includes 419 students from four states who exited an educational program through receipt of an alternate diploma.

⁶Age data are as of the most recent child count prior to the students exiting special education, so some students may have been 1 year older at the time they exited school.

⁷Other health impairments include having limited strength, vitality, or alertness due to chronic or acute health problems such as a heart condition, tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, nephritis, asthma, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, epilepsy, lead poisoning, leukemia, or diabetes.

⁸In 2021–22, includes 1,553 students from six states who exited an educational program through receipt of an alternate diploma.

NOTE: Although data are for the 50 states and the District of Columbia, data limitations result in inclusion of a small (but unknown) number of students from other jurisdictions. Includes imputations for missing or unavailable data from Iowa and New Hampshire in 2020–21 and from Iowa in 2021–22. Disability type refers to the specific disability for which a child is receiving services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). If a child has multiple types of disabilities but is receiving services for only one type of IDEA-defined disability, then the child is categorized under that specific disability. If a child is receiving services for more than one type of IDEA-defined disability, then the child is categorized under "multiple disabilities." Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to totals because of reporting anomalies and rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Section 618 Data Products: State Level Data Files. Retrieved October 6, 2023, from https://data.ed.gov/dataset/idea-section-618-data-products-state-level-data-files. (This table was prepared October 2023.)