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Study of Costs Related to Indiana Alternative and Residential Services

Client: Indiana Department of Education Division of Special Education
Term: January 1995–January 2000

Since passage by the Indiana State Legislature in 1991, Indiana's Alternative and Residential Services (ARS) has had a dramatic impact on the location of service for students with the most serious disabilities. During this study, the Center collaborated with the Indiana Department of Education Division of Special Education to study the characteristics of students and fiscal impact of ARS. The study also used the same database to study outcomes for students served by ARS, as perceived by case conferences committees.

Data were collected using a standardized outcome assessment survey, previously developed by the Center. Case conference teams rated improvement for skills and behaviors across four domains:

Critical behaviors
Educational
Functional
Social