Learning disabilities more identified in New York Children who were born at the end of the year: IBO - New York City Patch, NY

NEW YORK CITY - New data analysis reveals that New York-born children born later in the year are more likely to have learning problems.

According to a new analysis by the Independent Budget Office, children who were born in December are 70% more likely to be considered learning difficulties than children who were born in January.

"There is a close relationship between the month of birth and being classified as a disabled student," the IBO reported.

"The longer a student is at school, the more likely they are to be identified for special education services."

The IBO study examines elementary school students with six disabilities: autism, emotional disorders, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, language and language or health disorders during the school year 2017-2018.

While an average of 16.5% of children born in January were classified as learning disabled, the average rose to 23% in December, according to data.

Classifications of learning and communication disabilities based on the student's ability to read, write, speak and calculate showed the greatest positive correlations with the month of birth, according to the IBO analysis.

The IBO linked the correlation to the New York age limit for public schools on December 31, as opposed to the limit for private schools on September 1.

Education experts fear that children born later in the year will be unfavorably compared to the older children for whom the program was designed.

"The December 31st border in New York leads to unbalanced comparisons," said Mariana Souto-Manning, an associate professor at Columbia Teachers College, to Chalkbeat reporter Amy Zimmer , who had first asked the IBO to analyze the data.

"Misalignment of intersections ... forces New York executives and teachers to unduly reduce academic skills."