The Hannah's Gift Briefing
Nearly 1 In 5 Public School Students Have IEPs Or 504 Plans
Students with disabilities now make up 19% of U.S. public school enrollment, up from 17% two years earlier, according to the Department of Education's 2023–2024 civil rights data collection. While children with IEPs represent 15% of students, they account for 73% of those physically restrained and 68% of those placed in seclusion. About 7.6 million students were served under IDEA, roughly two-thirds of them boys.
What this means for families: Parents of children with IEPs should know their rights around school discipline, restraint, and seclusion protections under federal law.