| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether children with summer birthdates, or the youngest children within their respective grades, comprised a larger portion of an annual elementary‐age special education referral population than would be expected by chance. The 1,222 referrals from grades K‐5 of a Southeastern school district were classified according to three seasons of birth (months 6‐9, 10‐1, and 2‐5), three age groups (ages 5‐7, 8‐9, and 10 and up), and gender. Expected numbers of referrals for each season of birth were computed based on the numbers of children within the respective groups for the overall elementary‐age school population of 16,379. Independent chi‐square analyses revealed differences at the <.0001 level of significance between the expected and obtained numbers of referrals for both the 5‐ to 7‐year‐old children overall and the 5‐ to 7‐year‐old boys, and at the .0011 level of significance for 5‐ to 7‐year‐old girls. No significant differences between the expected and obtained numbers of referrals were found for the two older groups. Alternative means for providing educational services for the younger, at‐risk primary‐age student population were discussed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
