their obligations under special education law.
The U.S. Department of Education says that just 19 states qualified for the “meets requirements” designation for the 2013-2014 school year. The rest of states were classified as “needs assistance” or “needs intervention.”
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Education Department must evaluate states annually on their efforts to implement special education programs.
The ratings carry significant weight. If a state fails to meet requirements for two or more years, the Department of Education must take enforcement action, which can include a corrective action plan or withholding funds, among other steps.
This is the second year that the Education Department has relied on stricter measures to assess compliance.