Informal Removal of Students with Disabilities in Tennessee
March 2025
Authors: Matthew Veach and Kim Potts
In February 2024, the Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) received a legislative request to research the informal removal of students with disabilities covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in Tennessee public schools. In response, OREA conducted this study of informal removals which describes IDEA what OREA analysts learned from their research, and conclusions.
Informal removal of students with disabilities refers to informal practices that restrict or remove students' access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE), a primary right under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and other relevant educational services.
Informal removals are a problem for multiple reasons. They violate the law under IDEA, result in learning loss for affected students, create an incentive for students to misbehave to get out of school, and can strain the ability of parents, especially single and low-income parents, to hold employment to financially support their families.
OREA’s research resulted in three conclusions and two recommendations.