Resources

Policy Priorities for Young Advocates and LD Champions

This pamphlet outlines five policy priorities with supporting data for young advocates and LD Champions to use when advocating for disability rights. 

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Federal State Snapshots of Learning Disabilities

What is a Specific Learning Disability (SLD)?

An SLD is a brain-based disorder that affects an individual’s ability to read, write, and do math (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia). Students identified with SLD receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a law that provides a free and appropriate public education to children with disabilities. Of the 13% of the U.S. school-age population who received disability services under IDEA in the 2020–2021 academic year, 34% received services for SLD as the primary disability.

Download your own state’s SLD State Snapshot (PDF) by either clicking on your state below, or select your state from the dropdown menu.

Currently, some states have been updated to reflect 2023 NAEP data, while others still show 2021 data. Each state’s year should be noted in the top ‘U.S. Public School Enrollment’ section. All states will be updated with the latest available data by the end of 2025.

Significant Disproportionality in Special Education

Years of research point to inequities in education for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and students with disabilities. These inequities are particularly apparent when it comes to rates of discipline and special education enrollment.

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Inclusive, Innovative Assessments for Students with LD

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a national conversation about the role of public education, what should be taught, and what makes a high-quality education. The mental, emotional, and physical health of students was a pillar in the debate between remote or in-person schooling. Remote learning also disrupted instruction and assessment. As a result, measuring and addressing the “instructional loss” due to the pandemic became a priority for families, educators, and policymakers. The 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, often referred to as the Nation’s Report Card, showed a dramatic drop in proficiency scores across the board — but especially for students who are historically marginalized, such as those with disabilities.

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Unlocking Futures

Imagine you’re a student with a disability that impacts how you interact with others and process situations. In an instant, that disability may be criminalized, and you could find yourself thrust into a juvenile justice system that offers little support and few education resources. This scenario is all too common. Thousands of young people are punished every day for what is often typical adolescent behavior, or behaviors related to their disability.

As the public continues to raise attention to issues of school climate and youth mental health, it’s important to acknowledge another social system that runs parallel to education, with significant, widespread impacts on
the outcomes of those young people involved: the juvenile justice system. Spending even a short time in the juvenile justice system as a young person can have effects that last into adulthood. Yet conversations about youth well-being rarely include this typically overlooked and underserved group. Students with disabilities in particular are more likely than their nondisabled peers to find themselves engaged in the juvenile justice system, with learning disabilities as one of the most common disability types.

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Math NAEP Data Snapshot

A specific learning disability (SLD) is a brain-based disorder that affects an individual’s ability to read, write, and do math (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia). Of the 14% of the U.S. school-age population who received disability services under IDEA in the 2022-2023 academic year, 34% received services for SLD as the primary disability. Research shows students with SLD can achieve commensurate with their peers, if given the appropriate instruction and support.

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Reading NAEP Data Snapshot

A specific learning disability (SLD) is a brain-based disorder that affects an individual’s ability to read, write, and do math (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia). Of the 14% of the U.S. school-age population who received disability services under IDEA in the 2022-2023 academic year, 34% received services for SLD as the primary disability. Research shows students with SLD can achieve commensurate with their peers, if given the appropriate instruction and support.

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The Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act Overview

The Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act amends the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) to ensure that students with disabilities thrive in college. It would streamline the process to qualify for disability services and require colleges to accept a variety of forms of documentation of a disability, including an Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 Plan, notice from a doctor, or evaluation by a psychologist.

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Fulfilling the Promise for Students with Specific Learning Disabilities

Despite progress, individuals with learning disabilities continue to face stigma due to a lack of awareness and understanding regarding their capabilities in various settings, including the classroom, workplace, and communities. This resource serves as a snapshot of federal data, terms, and definitions.

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