IDEA Stats: Huge Percentage Increases in Florida and Mississippi

In The Politics of Autism, I write about special education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

From Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, 37th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2015

How have the percentages of resident populations ages 6 through 21 served under IDEA, Part B, that were reported under the category of autism changed over time? 

Exhibit 22. Percentage of the population ages 6 through 21 served under IDEA, Part B, reported under the category of autism, by year and age group: Fall 2004 through fall 2013

• In 2013, a total of 8.2 percent of students ages 6 through 21 served under IDEA, Part B, in the 52 states (“All states”) for which data were available were reported under the category of autism. More than 10 percent of the students served in Minnesota (13.8 percent), California (11.1 percent), Connecticut (11.0 percent), Oregon (11.0 percent), and Maryland (10.3 percent) were reported under the category of autism. However, less than 4 percent of the students served in Montana (3.5 percent), Puerto Rico (2.4 percent), and Iowa (1.1 percent) were reported under the category of autism. 
•  In 2008, a total of 5 percent of students ages 6 through 21 served under IDEA, Part B, in the 52 states (“All states”) for which data were available were reported under the category of autism. 127 
• The percentage of students ages 6 through 21 served under IDEA, Part B, who were reported under the category of autism was larger in 2013 than in 2008 in 50 of the 51 states for which data for both time periods were available. The sole exception was Iowa, in which 1.1 percent of the students served in both years were reported under the category of autism. 
• The percent change for 39 of the 50 states in which a larger percentage of the students ages 6 through 21 served under IDEA, Part B, were reported under the category of autism in 2013 than in 2008 exceeded 50 percent. Moreover, a percentage increase of more than 100 percent was found in Mississippi (149.3 percent) and Florida (117.3 percent).  [see pp. 125-126 of the report]