Resource Library

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.

The Significant Disproportionality Calculator is a spreadsheet application that the IDEA Data Center (IDC) created to help states analyze their data, make determinations of significant disproportionality, and support local education agencies (LEAs) in their analysis of data for significant disproportionality at the school-level. The accompanying user’s guide describes each worksheet within the calculator, formatting requirements, and instructions for using the calculator.

This Q&A answers essential questions about the Equity in IDEA Final Regulations, including information on the contents of the new rule, the standard methodology, remedies, important dates, and a glossary of terms.

Release Date: August 25, 2022

Guests: Alisa Fewkes, Part B Data Manager and Debi Smith, Special Populations Coordinator, Idaho Department of Education

When it comes to high-quality data, there are some questions we all ask ourselves. What does it mean to be a data-quality influencer? Am I a data-quality influencer? And, if not, what must I do to become one? To unearth the answers, our latest episode of A Date with Data visits the Gem State, where host Amy Bitterman discusses this multi-faceted issue with the Idaho Department of Education’s Alisa Fewkes and Debi Smith. They talk about polishing up a school’s and district’s ability to read and analyze data through drill-down trainings that the department offers around the state. 

This tool provides an overview of the public reporting requirements for IDEA Section 618 and processes for fulfilling the requirements. The tool annotates Section 618 legislation to name relevant data collections, file specifications documents, and user guides. Through a question-and-answer format, the tool highlights common processes and critical considerations to complete the requirements and points to external resources for further support.

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.

IDC and CIFR  developed the SEA Edit Check and Data Display Tool - Part B MOE and CEIS to help states prepare their Part B MOE and CEIS data submission. States can use the tool to identify potential edit check errors or errors in subtotals or totals prior to submitting the data to OSEP.  The tool allows states to input LEA-level data into the base data tab and generates edit check messages that the tool displays in the auto-calculations tab. IDC and CIFR updated the MOE and CEIS edit check tool with the revised reporting years and to reflect updates to three edit checks.