Graduation Rate

State Performance Plan Indicator 1

View SPPI Submission Schedule

SPPI 1: Measurement

State Performance Plan Indicator (SPPI) 1 measures the percent of youth with individualized education programs (IEPs) exiting from high school with a regular high school diploma.

For SPPI 1 calculations, graduating with a regular high school diploma is defined as follows:

These students exited an educational program through receipt of a high school diploma identical to that for which students without disabilities are eligible. These students met the same standards for graduation as those for students without disabilities. As defined in 34 CFR 300.102(a)(3)(iv), the term regular high school diploma means the standard high school diploma awarded to the preponderance of students in the State that is fully aligned with State standards, or a higher diploma, except that a regular high school diploma shall not be aligned to the alternate academic achievement standards described in section 1111(b)(1)(E) of the ESEA. A regular high school diploma does not include a recognized equivalent of a diploma, such as a general equivalency diploma, certificate of completion, certificate of attendance, or similar lesser credential.

SPPI 1: Calculation

SPPI 1 is calculated as the percentage of youth with IEPs (ages 14-21) who exited special education due to graduating with a regular high school diploma in the numerator and the number of all youth with IEPs who left high school (ages 14-21) in the denominator.

SPPI 1 Calculation and Example (PDF)

SPPI 1: Data Source

The data source for SPPI 1 is the same data used for reporting to the U. S. Department of Education (USDE) under section 618 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), using the definitions in EDFacts file specification FS009. Local educational agencies submit leaver data during the fall Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) collection. 

Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, current-year leaver and graduation data will be reported in the PEIMS Summer and Extended Year Submissions. Additional information regarding the leaver and graduate collection change can be found in the Early Notice – Moving Leaver and Graduate Reporting from the PEIMS Fall to the PEIMS Summer and Extended Year Submissions TAA correspondence. 

States report data for the reporting year or, for some indicators, data from the year prior to reporting year (lag data). The USDE Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) determines indicator reporting years. SPPI 1 reports data from the year prior to the reporting year.

View Data Reporting Year

SPPI 1: Resources

State Resources

• Completion, Graduation, and Dropout Data
• Graduation Guidance for Students with Disabilities
• Graduation Information
• Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS)
• State Graduation Requirements
• Student Graduation Reports
• Texas SPED Support: Transition