Resource Library

The Success Gaps Toolkit presents a process for using data and the Success Gap Rubric to identify root causes of gaps between groups of children in districts or schools. These success gaps occur when the education system is not meeting the needs of all groups of children and outcomes for some groups are different than outcomes for most groups. The toolkit, with its process and materials, provides a manageable and defined way for districts or schools to identify success gaps that are present and their root causes and then make a plan for addressing the gaps. The success gaps may be the graduation rate of students who are English learners compared to the rate of all other children, the out-of-school suspension rate of children who are Black compared to the rate of all other children, the identification of children who are Hispanic as children with specific learning disabilities compared to the identification of all other children, and other gaps.

The Equity in IDEA regulations require states to determine annually if local education agencies (LEAs) are identified with significant disproportionality. The regulations outline specific requirements related to methods for identifying LEAs and activities the LEAs must complete after they are identified. These significant disproportionality resources can assist states with implementing these requirements and supporting LEAs through the process of meeting the requirements.

IDC presents the SEA Edit Check and Data Display Tools for IDEA 618 Part B Data to help states prepare their Part B data submissions. States can use these tools to review the contents of their IDEA 618 EDFacts Part B personnel, exiting, discipline and child count and educational environment data for children ages 3–5 (FS089) and students ages 6–21 (FS002) prior to submission to the EDFacts Submission System or ESS. The tools apply edit checks and identify potential errors in subtotals or totals in the data files. In addition, the tools provide user-friendly summaries of the 618 data. The tools are enhanced versions of the SEA Edit Check and Data Display Tools for personnel, exiting, discipline, and child count and educational environment data. The main difference is the enhanced edit check tools require states to directly copy and paste the EDFacts data files they will submit to ESS as opposed to manually entering data into an Excel file in a format that is different than the one required for submission to ESS.

The TA guide describes the methods a state might use to appropriately determine which of its districts has a significant discrepancy (including a significant discrepancy by race or ethnicity) in the rates of out-of-school suspensions and expulsions totaling greater than 10 days for children with disabilities.

The LEA EDFacts Edit Check and Data Display Tools allow states to identify potential business rule errors or errors in category sets, subtotals, or totals prior to submitting the data to OSEP via the EDFacts Submission System. The tool also provides states with user-friendly data summaries.

This resource focuses on recent changes in the data source and measurement of Part B Indicators 1 and 2. The resource specifically addresses the treatment of “alternate diploma” in the new calculation. In FFY 2019, the calculation of graduation rate included students receiving an alternate diploma in the numerator. For FFY 2020–2025 the calculation of graduation rate includes students receiving an alternate diploma in the denominator. The calculation for Indicator 2 remains similar from FFY 2019 to FFY 2020–2025; however, it explicitly adds students receiving an alternate diploma in the denominator. 

This tool from IDC and NTACT calculates graduation and dropout rates using the 618 Exiting data, as OSEP will require in coming years for reporting in states’ SPP/APRs. The tool can accumulate and graph multiple years of data, allowing users to observe trends in the rates over time and share the information easily with stakeholders.