• Although the states are not identified on this graph, detailed SEEP reports for several of the states are available.
  
• Total per pupil spending shown in the graph does not include spending on other special needs programs (e.g., Title I, programs for English language learners, and Gifted and Talented Education (GATE).

Exhibit A shows total per pupil spending to educate school-aged special education students in the U.S. and in 11 states in which CSEF conducted state-level special education expenditure studies similar to the national SEEP. Exhibit A also shows the two major components of total spending to educate a special education student: regular and special education expenditures. The national SEEP and 9 of the state SEEPs (Alabama, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island) collected data for the 1999-2000 school year. Subsequent studies in 2 states (Maryland and Wyoming) collected data for the 2001-02 school year. To provide comparable data for all states and the nation, values for the 9 states and the U.S. were adjusted to 2001-02 dollars, using the Consumer Price Index adjusted to the school year--amounting to a 5.3 percent inflation rate for the two years combined.

The difference between the total spending to educate a special education student and a regular education student can be measured as the ratio. Exhibit B compares this ratio across 10 SEEP states and the national ratio of 1.90. (This ratio was not calculated for the 11th SEEP state.)