How much time do students with disabilities spend in "regular" classrooms?

Date Updated
04/09/21

According to the Digest of Educational Statistics students with disabilities are spending increasing lengths of time in general classes in regular classrooms. In fall 2018 it was reported that 64% of students with disabilities spent a majority (defined as at least 80%) of their day in a regular classroom.

Specific percentages of time spent in regular classrooms vary according to type of disability. In fall 2018, the percentage of students who spent most of their school day in general classes was highest for students with speech or language impairments (87.8%). Seventy-two point two percent of students with specific learning disabilities and 68.2% percent of students with visual impairments spent most of their school day in general classes. In contrast, 17.3% percent of students with intellectual disabilities and 14.2% percent of students with multiple disabilities spent most of their school day in general classes.