The Effect of No Child Left Behind on Rural Students with Low Incidence Disabilities

As part of a doctoral level seminar, students read recent articles on the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, summarized and developed a list of probable issues that face students with low incidence disabilities in rural areas, and then interviewed directors of special education. The five doctoral students contacted 14 directors of special education in rural districts and discussed the issues that they had identified. The results of these discussions are reported and involve various themes (e.g., school choice, transition, alternate assessment, etc.). In addition, a discussion section includes recommendations for service planning for students with low incidence disabilities in rural areas.