CARSON CITY, Nev. – Thanks to a renewed focus on inclusion, nearly 40 percent of preschool students with disabilities are participating in regular classrooms.

“The work of our special education department and the school districts has resulted in Nevada being more in line nationally on inclusion,” said Jhone Ebert, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Giving all students the support they need at the very earliest opportunity sets them on the path to success in school and life.”

Schools in Nevada have increased the number of preschool students with disabilities participating in regular classrooms 5.33 percentage points to 39.4 percent. This represents growth of almost 10 percentage points in the last four years. Nevada is now within 5 percentage points of the national inclusion rate.

“Our inclusion rates have historically been too low, but the good news is that we have engaged stakeholders who are committed to advocating for our children with disabilities in Nevada,” said Will Jensen, Director of the Office of Special Education in the Nevada Department of Education. “I could not be more proud of the work that our teachers are doing to meet the needs of these young learners.”

The growth in Nevada’s inclusion rate can be directly linked to the collaboration between Nevada’s school districts and NDE. With a shared vision that all children have equitable access to high quality inclusive preschool settings, Jensen said he is confident the inclusion rate will continue to rise.