The More Things Change: A Longitudinal Study of Placements of Special Education Students in Louisiana.

This paper discusses the outcomes of a longitudinal study that investigated whether significant change has occurred in the number of Louisiana students in general education, resource, and separation placements from 1990 to 1999; whether significant differences in placement by age category have continued; and which school systems show a tendency toward more or less inclusion of students and how they compare on identified variables. Student demographic data for the study were generated from a statewide student database, using the federal reporting data of December 1 for comparison. The study was limited to school-aged students. Results from the study indicate no dramatic shifts in placement trends in Louisiana over the ten-year period. A comparison of the average percent of students in the three placement over the last four years to the previous six showed no real change in general education placements and an approximate 5 percent decrease in separate special education class placements with a subsequent 5 percent increase in resource special education class placements. This indicates there has been change, albeit in smaller increments than presumed or desired and not in all areas. Also, the tendency to increase separate placement as the students age continues to be clearly evident. (Contains 12 references.) (CR)