Welcome to the IDEA Data Center

Plan to attend Low Preschool Inclusion Rates: A Problem of Practice or Bad Data? on April 14th from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET. Presenters will explore solutions to promote high-quality preschool inclusion practices and methods to improve data quality for indicator 6A.

We often think of evaluation as a one-time activity that we do at the end of a project to generate required information for a report. However, evaluation is a powerful tool that we should use consistently in order to help us, as practitioners, do our job better and provide better outcomes for our students. Evaluating what we’re doing also gives us a way to highlight our good work.

Are you looking for information on the special education data that states collect, but you're unsure where to start? This video series provides high-level introductions to the data states must report as part of Section 618 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 

Significant disproportionality calculations rely on risk ratios to dive deeper into subgroup differences in outcome data, such as identification, placement, and discipline. Risk ratios are a useful tool in a state’s data analysis toolbox. What if the same tool could be used to identify subgroup differences in other student outcome data? Even better, what if the same tool could be applied to student outcome data that are already collected by states and districts? Let’s explore one potential option for states to examine these subgroup differences using commonly collected data: graduation and dropout.

Working Better Together: Sustaining Diverse Stakeholder Engagement offered state strategies for recruiting stakeholders, including parents; sustaining their interest; and working effectively with them to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities and their families. Webinar slides and recording are available here.

IDC has just released this new, comprehensive toolkit to help SEAs and LEAs effectively collect, report, analyze, and use their Part B SPP/APR Indicator 6 data. The tool also offers a Preschool Environments Calculator and Data Analysis Tool.

This tool is designed to create data visualizations, in the form of charts, based on State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) data the user enters. IDC has updated the tool to make it easier for users to create visualizations based on the charts’ purposes.

Our latest resource focuses on response rate and representativeness in data collection and survey work to help gauge the completeness and accuracy of collected data and ensure that the data are valid and generalizable. This resource briefly defines and compares the terms while also explaining how they relate to nonresponse bias. 

During our first Significant Disproportionality Summit on November 9th and 10th, 2021, IDC brought states and districts together to discuss strategies, processes, and infrastructures related to significant disproportionality.  Visit this page to view the slides and recordings from the event. Also, be sure to check out the full suite of significant disproportionality resources on our new web page.

These significant disproportionality resources can assist states with implementing the requirements of the Equity in IDEA regulations and supporting LEAs through the process of meeting the requirements.

Be sure to check the 618 Data Collection Calendar each month to create your task list for the month. This tool outlines monthly tasks for 618 data collection reports to help states submit timely, accurate, and complete data. Activities for each data collection report may address upcoming data submissions or previous data submissions for individual months, helping states effectively plan for their 618 data collection reports. Click here to learn more and to view the calendar.

Exciting opportunities await you in June 2022! IDC plans to present its 2022 Interactive Institute (ii22) in-person on June 6-7, 2022 in Nashville, TN and virtually on June 21-23, 2022. Mark your calendars now to participate in these must-experience innovative and engaging events on data quality! Spread the word and watch for more details in the coming months.