Klamath Falls Special Education Attendance & Graduation Study
Oregon
Opportunity
District leaders at Klamath Falls City Schools (KFCS) recognized that students with disabilities were not attending school regularly or graduating on time at the same rates as their peers. While graduation rates had shown improvement in recent years, the gaps in attendance, on-track progress, and completion remained substantial. Understanding that closing these gaps required a deeper understanding of the barriers faced by students with disabilities, KFCS contracted with HSRI to launch the Special Education Attendance & Graduation Study.
Approach
HSRI began with a comprehensive situation analysis, drawing on three streams of evidence:
- A review of national programs and best practices for supporting students with disabilities.
- Research on the factors most closely tied to high school attendance and graduation.
- Multi-year performance data from the Oregon Department of Education and KFCS.
HSRI also conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups with district administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and—most importantly—students with disabilities themselves.
Impact
The study culminated in a set of structured recommendations and actionable strategies designed to address the root causes of low attendance and graduation rates. By combining data analysis, national research, and community voice, HSRI delivered a roadmap that KFCS can use to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.