The Special Education Observatory

Special education in Illinois

2024–25 school year · 974 districts reporting · 55 withheld for privacy

Students with IEPs

280,897

3.8% of the national total · 6th of 52

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618 and Common Core of Data, 2024–25, via The Special Education Observatory.

Share of students

15.3%

Same as the national rate · 26th of 52

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618 and Common Core of Data, 2024–25, via The Special Education Observatory.

80% or more of the day in general education

53.6%

14.2 points below the national rate · 51st of 52

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618 and Common Core of Data, 2024–25, via The Special Education Observatory.

Less than 40% of the day in general education

14.0%

1.0 points above the national rate · 14th of 52

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618 and Common Core of Data, 2024–25, via The Special Education Observatory.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. IDEA Section 618 Part B Child Count and Educational Environments (file specifications 002 and 089), district level, 2024–25.
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Common Core of Data, district membership, 2024–25 (final).

PULSE, The Special Education Observatory. Data retrieved Sep 25, 2026. Free to share with citation.