For Part C Early Intervention, a comparison of national averages from FFY 2019 to FFY 2020 showed increases in some outcomes and decreases in others. There was an increase in the percent of children making greater than expected progress in Social Relationships and Knowledge and Skills, and an increase in the percent of children exiting at age expectations in Social Relationships. There was no change in percent of children exiting at age expectation in Knowledge and Skills. For the third outcome, Action to Meet Needs, there was a decrease in both the percent of children making greater than expected growth and percent of children exiting at age expectations.

For Part B Preschool, there was no change in the percent of children exiting at age expectations in Social Relationships from FFY 2019 to FFY 2020, and a decrease in national averages in all other outcomes.

State Part C and Part B, Section 619 annual performance reports provided key reasons for declines, including impacts of COVID-19, other data quality issues, and changes to state data collection methods. Further analyses, particularly at the state and local level, are needed to understand trends.

IDEA Child Outcomes Highlights for FFY 2020

Published September 2022.