Salem-Keizer: More special ed students graduating, but fewer prepared for life after

Students with special needs in Salem-Keizer Public Schools are graduating more, dropping out less, accessing services sooner and spending more time in traditional classrooms with their peers, according to data released this week.

However, the data also show these students have seen a substantial decline in success in higher education or employment after they leave the district. 

The Oregon Department of Education released its 2018-19 special education report cards on Thursday. The at-a-glance profiles evaluate each district's 2017-18 data compared to the state standards for special ed services.  

Of the 42,000-plus students in Salem-Keizer, about 6,580 students received special education services the year in question. These services refer to specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.

Salem-Keizer's latest data show it is not meeting state targets on several measures, including time the students spend in separate classrooms, parents' perception of parent involvement and inclusion and transition plans for when students turn 16.

And while the district has made improvement on things such as graduation and completion rates, they are still nearly 30 percentage points below the state targets for both areas. The same goes for drop out rates, which have decreased, but are still higher than what the state expects. 

"We know that individuals experiencing disabilities continue to face barriers in obtaining competitive employment in the community," said Eric Richards, outgoing director of student services for the district.

"(Despite) a tough economic forecast, (we) plan to continue developing opportunities like the summer work experience grant to increase their success as adults." 

Salem-Keizer improvements

In Salem-Keizer, the number of students receiving special education services who graduated with a regular or modified diploma in their four-year cohort increased by about 5 percentage points from the previous year, according to the latest data.

The four-year graduation rate is now at 57.98%, compared to the state target of 84% or more.

The percentage of students with individualized education programs, known as IEPs, who dropped out decreased slightly by .06 percentage points. It now sits at 3.74%, with the state target being 3.1% or less.

An IEP is a written statement for a child with a disability that is developed, reviewed and revised by a team throughout their education to ensure they receive supports they are entitled to by state and federal laws.

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As for the number of students who received parental consent to be evaluated, were evaluated and were found eligible within 60 school days, that increased by 1.15 percentage points from the previous year — meaning students who needed special services were able to access them sooner.

Students placed inside regular classrooms 80% or more of the day increased by 1.59 points to 72.89%, bringing the district very close to the state's goal of 73% or more.

Elementary students with IEPs improved on math and English language arts tests, while high school students with IEPs increased in math. 

The percentage of students with an IEP who enrolled in higher education within one year of leaving high school also increased by 4.61 percentage points, coming in at 21.91% compared to the state goal of 31%. 

And only .77 percent of district students were served in public or private separate schools, residential placements or home bound/hospitalized, which is below the state allowance of 1.8% or less.

Additionally, the report found no significant discrepancy in any measured areas related to equity and disproportionate effects for these students.

Issues, declines in special education

Some issues persist in Salem-Keizer schools, and for students after they leave the district's care. 

According to the latest data, the percentage of Salem-Keizer students with an IEP who enrolled in higher education or were competitively employed within one year of leaving high school decreased by a staggering 18 percentage points.

Expanding that scope further, the percentage of students with an IEP who enrolled in higher education, enrolled in post-secondary education or training, or were competitively employed or had employment within one year of leaving high school decreased by approximately five percentage points.

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The district's transition programs — Community Transition Program and Independent Living Program — are designed to support adult students with disabilities, ages 18 to 21, after the completion of high school, according to district officials.

These programs are supposed to prepare students to transition into their communities as adults through vocational training, independent living skills development and functional academics.

Through partnerships with local businesses our students can prepare for post-secondary success through internship opportunities and hands-on training and work experience.

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Student services director Richards said the district received a grant from Vocational Rehabilitation Services that provided employment opportunities for 40 students during the summer of 2019.

That and other initiatives make Richards believe the next report will have better post-secondary outcomes.

When it comes to testing, the percentage of students with IEPs in high schools meeting or exceeding standards in English language arts decreased by more than six percentage points.

And the percentage of student with IEPs in middle schools meeting or exceeding standards in math decreased by about one percentage point.

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Across elementary, middle and high school levels, and regardless of math or English language arts as the subject, Salem-Keizer students with special needs do not meet state targets.

For more information, view the report or explore the report cards of other districts, go to www.ode.state.or.us/data/reportcard/reports.aspx.

Contact education reporter Natalie Pate at npate@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6745 or follow Natalie on Twitter @Nataliempate or Facebook at www.Facebook.com/nataliepatejournalist.