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OSEP Monitoring — Significant Disproportionality Reporting Under IDEA Part B


Introduction 

IDEA section 618(d) requires states to collect and examine data to determine if significant disproportionality based on race and ethnicity is occurring in the state and the local educational agencies (LEAs) of the state with respect to:

  • The identification of children as children with disabilities, including the identification of children as children with disabilities in accordance with a particular impairment;
  • The placement in particular educational settings of such children; and
  • The incidence, duration, and type of disciplinary actions, including suspensions and expulsions.

IDEA and its implementing regulations do not, however, define “significant disproportionality.” The Part B regulations require states to use a standard methodology for analysis of disproportionality, which includes states setting a threshold above which disproportionality in the identification, placement, or discipline of children with disabilities within an LEA is significant. The standard methodology uses risk ratios to analyze disparities for seven racial or ethnic groups, comparing each to all other children within the LEA in 14 different categories of analysis. States determine the thresholds above which the risk ratio in each category of analysis indicates significant disproportionality. States have flexibility to identify an LEA with significant disproportionality only after it exceeds a risk ratio threshold for up to three prior consecutive years, exclude small populations from analysis, and exclude from determinations of significant disproportionality LEAs that have made reasonable progress in reducing their risk ratios. (See 34 C.F.R. §§300.646 and 300.647.)

The Part B regulations also require states to report all risk ratio thresholds, minimum cell sizes, minimum n-sizes, and standards for measuring reasonable progress, and the rationales for each, to the Department. In 2020, OSEP required states to submit this information through the Significant Disproportionality Reporting Forms under Section V.B. of their FFY 2020 IDEA Part B grant applications. The form provides a summary of information on procedures that comply with the Significant Disproportionality requirements under 34 CFR § 300.647(b)(7).

In an effort to provide increased transparency regarding the implementation of the requirements around significant disproportionality within states, that allows LEAs, and stakeholders to monitor significant disproportionality and to emphasize the importance of soliciting public input in the review and revision of risk ratio thresholds, cell sizes, and n-sizes, OSEP is posting states’ submitted Significant Disproportionality Reporting Forms. States had an opportunity to update their Significant Disproportionality Forms, if necessary, before the documents were posted to OSEP’s website by submitting revised forms with their FFY 2022 Part B grant application. States also will continue to provide updated forms to the Department, through their Part B grant applications, when any changes are made to their methodologies. Updated forms will be posted on this page.


Other Resources 

Reports 

Alabama | Alaska | American Samoa | Arizona | Arkansas | Bureau of Indian Education | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | District of Columbia | Federated States of Micronesia | Florida | Georgia | Guam | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Marshall Islands | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Northern Mariana Islands | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Puerto Rico | Republic of Palau | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virgin Islands | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming


Alabama

  • Alabama Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2022
    PDF

Alaska

  • Alaska Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

American Samoa

  • American Samoa Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Arizona

  • Arizona Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Arkansas

  • Arkansas Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Bureau of Indian Education

  • Bureau of Indian Education Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

California

  • California Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Colorado

  • Colorado Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Connecticut

  • Connecticut Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Delaware

  • Delaware Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2022
    PDF

District of Columbia

  • District of Columbia Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Federated States of Micronesia

  • Federated States of Micronesia Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Florida

  • Florida Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Georgia

  • Georgia Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Guam

  • Guam Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Hawaii

  • Hawaii Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Idaho

  • Idaho Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Illinois

  • Illinois Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Indiana

  • Indiana Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Iowa

  • Iowa Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Kansas

  • Kansas Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Kentucky

  • Kentucky Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Louisiana

  • Louisiana Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Maine

  • Maine Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Marshall Islands

  • Marshall Islands Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Maryland

  • Maryland Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Massachusetts

  • Massachusetts Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Michigan

  • Minnesota Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Minnesota

  • Minnesota Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Mississippi

  • Mississippi Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Missouri

  • Missouri Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Montana

  • Montana Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Nebraska

  • Nebraska Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Nevada

  • Nevada Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

New Jersey

  • New Jersey Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

New Mexico

  • New Mexico Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

New York

  • New York Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

North Carolina

  • North Carolina Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

North Dakota

  • North Dakota Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Northern Mariana Islands

  • Northern Mariana Islands Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Ohio

  • Ohio Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Oklahoma

  • Oklahoma Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Oregon

  • Oregon Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2022
    PDF

Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Puerto Rico

  • Puerto Ric Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Republic of Palau

  • Republic of Palau Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Rhode Island

  • Rhode Island Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

South Carolina

  • South Carolina Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

South Dakota

  • South Dakota Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Tennessee

  • Tennessee Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2022
    PDF

Texas

  • Texas Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Utah

  • Utah Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Vermont

  • Vermont Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Virgin Islands

  • Virgin Islands Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Virginia

  • Virginia Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Washington

  • Washington Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

West Virginia

  • West Virginia Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Wisconsin

  • Wisconsin Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

Wyoming

  • Wyoming Part B Significant Disproportionality Reporting Form for 2020
    PDF

 

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
Page Last Reviewed:
January 14, 2025