Educational placement of students with autism spectrum disorder and its relation to socioeconomic status, intelligence, and diagnosis

Background: Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have several options for placement within the education system. Placement options typically comprise inclusion, self-contained classrooms in a regular schools, or special education schools. Objectives: The current study reviewed 210 psychological records of Israeli students with ASD from 1994 to 2011 retrospectively, and sought to examine students' placement in relation to three factors: intelligence, diagnosis and socioeconomic status (SES). In addition, transition periods were examined to detect possible key periods for change in placement. Results: All three factors were related to educational placement. Specifically, students in special schools had a significantly lower mean intelligence score, and lower SES was associated with less inclusive placements. Additionally, the transition between 6th and 7th grade was found to be a key period for placement change, mainly from more inclusive placements to less inclusive ones. Conclusions: Implications for policy and practice are discussed.