According to a K-12 Dive report, about 13% of students with disabilities participating in special education services in 2022-23 had autism. That’s an increase from 5% in 2008-09.

The percentage of students identified with autism receiving K-12 special education services has been on a steady rise over the last decade and a half. However, students with autism are less likely to participate in general education classes compared to other students with disabilities, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education released last month.

During the 2022-23 school year, about 13% of students with disabilities were identified with autism. That’s up 8 percentage points from the 2008-09 school year when about 5% of students participating in special education services were identified with autism.

But when it comes to inclusion, only 41% of students with autism spend 80% or more of their school day in general education classes, compared to 67% of all students with disabilities.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.