By Alexandra Hart for Texas Public Radio on November 6, 2019

"In 2004, the Texas Education Agency put a limit on the percentage of students it would allow into special education programs, which affected thousands. The Houston Chronicle exposed the illegal policy in 2016, and the investigation led to the Texas Legislature barring the agency from imposing such limits. 

Even so, the cap is still having an effect. A new study from researchers at the University of California, Davis and Cornell University found that students denied access to special education were significantly less likely to graduate from high school and also less likely to enroll in college.

Briana Ballis is a co-author of the study, and says the policy had long-lasting effects, especially on students with more mild impairments like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD."

Hear the full story at Texas Public Radio