Categorical and programming changes in special education services

Special education students (N = 654) were studied to determine what proportion had a categorical or programming change and what factors (child, school, and home) were associated with change. The study included all students with disabilities from preschool through secondary school in a tricounty rural district. Data were gathered through a record review and parent survey. Change was found to be more common than is generally perceived: 38.2% of the students had a classification change (21.9% by termination and 16.3% by reclassification). Rates of change varied significantly among classifications and the student's initial classification, grade level, and comorbidity were significantly predictive of change in classification.