Bridging the Gap
Special Education in NYC
An Advocacy and Research Project ✦ Conducted by the Students of Dominican Academy
Bridging the Gap
Special Education in NYC
An Advocacy and Research Project ✦ Conducted by the Students of Dominican Academy
By the Numbers
About 1 in 5 NYC public school students has an Individualized Education Program (IEP)
~200,000
NYC K–12 students with IEPs
School Year 2024–25
19%
of NYC students receive special ed services
School Year 2024–25
59%
Graduation rate for students with disabilities
Class of 2025
7.6%
of students are not getting their IEP services
June 2024
The Interactive Map
Special education services in New York City vary across the five boroughs. The map below shows the percentage of students currently receiving special education services in each borough. Click or tap any borough to find local resources and contact information for families seeking support.
Despite these enrollment numbers, thousands of students with IEPs are still not receiving all the services they are legally entitled to. Enrollment in special education does not guarantee access to quality care.
The Three Numbers That Matter
$38.6 billion
was the Federal shortfall for School Year 2024–25.
Congress promised to cover 40% of special education costs when IDEA was passed in 1975. Today, federal funding covers less than 13% of costs.
IDEA Funding Coalition · 2024
2x
Wealthier districts spend twice as much per special ed student.
Research shows that in lower-income districts, students with disabilities receive significantly fewer resources than those in wealthier areas.
Conlin & Jalilevand · Journal of Education Finance · 2015
~1 in 5
evaluations miss the 60-day deadline.
Federal law requires evaluations within 60 days of parent consent.
NYC DOE Annual SpEd Report · SY 21–22
Help Us Fight for Better Funding
Special education in NYC is underfunded. Families wait months for evaluations and often don't get the services their kids are entitled to. Here's how you can help in three steps.
Find Your Representatives
Enter your address to find your U.S. Representative, State Senator, and Assembly Member. These are the people who vote on school funding.
Call or Write
A phone call from a constituent matters. Two minutes of your time can make a real difference on education policy.
Share This Page
Pass this page along to neighbors, friends, and anyone who cares about NYC kids. More awareness means more pressure to act.
A Script You Can Use
"Hi, my name is [your name], and I'm a constituent in [your neighborhood]. I'm calling/writing to ask [the Representative / Senator / Assembly Member] to fully fund special education services in NYC public schools. More than 200,000 kids across our city rely on these programs, and the Class of 2025 graduation rate for students with disabilities just dropped to 59%. That's the biggest drop in over 20 years. Please support funding that strengthens IEP services, reduces wait times for evaluations, and gives classrooms the support they need. Thank you."
Sources
Total enrollment (906,248 students; 19% with IEPs): NYC Public Schools "Data at a Glance," SY 2024–25. schools.nyc.gov
IEP total (~200,000+ K–12): NYC Council Committee on Education hearing, January 30, 2025.
Graduation rate for students with disabilities (59%, Class of 2025): NYC DOE graduation results, released March 2026. infohub.nyced.org
Service delivery (7.6% not fully served): NYC DOE School-Age Special Education Data Report, September 2024. infohub.nyced.org
Borough percentages: NYC Department of Education borough-level special education enrollment targets, SY 2023–24. Supported by NYU Steinhardt Research Alliance. steinhardt.nyu.edu
IDEA funding shortfall ($38.66 billion): IDEA Funding Coalition, 2024.
Systemic funding inequities: Conlin & Jalilevand, Journal of Education Finance, 2015.
An Advocacy and Research Project by the Students of Dominican Academy · May 2026