Sioux Falls, SD: More SPED students; "overall enrollment has declined"
. . .Special education enrollment increases
The number of students receiving special education services also continues to rise.
This school year, 4,437 students, or about 18.7% of district enrollment, receive additional support.
Students qualify for services through an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, which outlines the support they need to learn. Depending on their needs, students with autism, dyslexia, learning disabilities, speech impairments and physical or health disabilities may receive services in general education classrooms.
The district’s figures are consistent with national trends. The Learning Policy Institute estimates that about one in six public school students receives special education services.
Overall enrollment declines
The growth in student diversity and special education enrollment comes as the district’s overall enrollment has declined.
The district’s final enrollment report shows 23,759 students in junior kindergarten through 12th grade this school year, down 301 students, or about 1.3%, from 24,060 last school year.
The decline in kindergarten enrollment is a major factor in the overall decrease.
Doug Morrison, the district’s director of data services, told the School Board that 1,681 kindergartners enrolled this fall. That marks the fifth consecutive annual decline since kindergarten enrollment peaked at 2,007 students in fall 2021. . .
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Morrison and Konrad cited several factors that may contribute to declining kindergarten and overall enrollment, including lower birth rates, changes in federal immigration policies, more students being homeschooled, increased private school enrollment and an aging population in the city’s core neighborhoods.
As smaller groups of students enter the district in the youngest grades, overall enrollment declines could continue.
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