State Accountability Systems and Students with Disabilities. Issue Brief

This research brief uses data collected by the Center for Policy Research on the Impact of General and Special Education Reform to highlight issues surrounding the inclusion and exclusion of students with disabilities in state accountability systems. The brief discusses the background of standards-based reform, traditional general education accountability, and changes to general education accountability systems. Strategies for including students with disabilities in general education accountability are then reviewed and the role of federal compliance monitoring in accountability is outlined. Issues associated with including students with disabilities in general education accountability are discussed. Recommendations include: (1) special educators and families should be involved in discussions about state accountability systems and help shape accountability policies; (2) states need to establish policies that provide consistent guidelines for assessments; (3) state departments of education need to work closely with federal agencies when constructing integrated monitoring documents and policies; (4) special educators and families should be part of the development of state support strategies for failing schools as well as benefit from state rewards when schools perform well; and (5) continued efforts should be made to develop compliance monitoring that supports program improvement and student achievement. (CR)