Indicators 4a, 4b, 9 and 10

State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Plan’s (SPP/APR) relationship to Disproportionality

The SPP/APR is a written plan that evaluates the state’s efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of IDEA and describes how the state will improve its implementation and results for children with disabilities. Georgia is required to submit a state performance plan (SPP) at least every six years. Each year, Georgia reports against the targets in its SPP in an annual performance report (APR) with the goal of meeting the measurable and rigorous targets. The information in the SPP/APR is separated into Indicators. Four of the eighteen indicators are related to disproportionality: 4a, 4b, 9 &10.

Indicator 4a requires Georgia to report the percentage of LEAs that have a significant discrepancy in the rate of suspensions and expulsions greater than 10 days in a school year. It includes students ages 3-21. The ten days are cumulative, and it only includes out-of-school suspension and expulsions. Georgia’s minimum cell size is ≥ 10 students and the minimum n size is ≥ 30 students.

Significant discrepancy in Georgia is determined by comparison of the LEA’s rate (children with disabilities) to state rate (children with disabilities). The rate ratio is ≥ 2.0 for two consecutive years.

Indicator 4b follows all of the same guidelines as Indicator 4a except that the information in the calculation is disaggregated into seven racial/ethnicity categories (i.e., Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Black Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, White or Two or more races).

After the calculations are complete, LEA’s policies, practices and procedures are reviewed. If noncompliance is identified during this review, the LEA corrects the noncompliance according to IDEA. The LEA will also identify and address the factors that may be contributing to the significant discrepancy.

Indicator 9 requires Georgia to report the percentage of LEAs that have disproportionate representation that meet the State established n and/or cell size for one or more racial/ethnic subgroups, with disproportionate representation of racial and ethnic groups in special education and related services that is the result of inappropriate identification (for all disabilities). Georgia’s minimum cell size is ≥ 10 students and the minimum n size is ≥ 30 students. Georgia uses the risk ratio or alternative risk ratio ≥ 3.0 for two consecutive years. Only LEAs that meet the criteria are evaluated at the LEA level for disproportionality.

The risk ratio is calculated using a complex equation and the minimum cell and n sizes are required. For example, if the LEA has more than 10 SWD students in a particular racial/ethnic group, such as Hispanic, and there are more than 30 students in that particular racial/ethnic group in the LEA. The group will be evaluated for risk.

The denominator of the equation will either be a comparison group at the LEA level or state comparison group. If the LEA has ≥ 10 students in all other racial/ethnic groups (not Hispanic) identified as students with disabilities in the LEA and ≥30 or more children enrolled in the LEA in all other racial/ethnic groups (not Hispanic), then the LEA comparison group will be used.

If the LEA does not meet conditions in the bottom part of the complex fraction, then the state comparison group is used for the denominator.

Indicator 10 follows all of the same guidelines as Indicator 9 except that the information in the calculation is disaggregated into seven racial/ethnicity categories (i.e., Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Black Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, White or Two or more races) and for the special education categories of Specific Learning Disability, Other Health Impaired, Speech Language Impaired, Intellectual Disability, Autism, and Emotional Behavioral Disorders by using the same criteria.

Indicators 4a, 4b, 9 and 10 are compliance indicators. Indicators 9 and 10 must be 100%.