Washington follows federal and state criteria to identify students eligible for special education services. This multistep identification process helps school districts decide whether children should receive special education services. The process also includes deadlines that school districts must meet. The state is making some changes that will require districts to take a more proactive approach for identifying students for special education.
In the 2023-24 school year, Washington served more than 140,000 students needing special education services. Most school districts needed help paying for it.
In 2024, the Legislature passed a bill requiring the Office of the Washington State Auditor to compare the prevalence of disabilities in student populations to the funding available to evaluate students and provide them with needed services. It also directed the State Auditor to determine whether any populations are under evaluated or underserved. This audit examined whether any populations are under identified for special education and the funding available for related services.
Read a two-page summary of the report.