The prevalence of students with visual impairments varies across the United States, yet limited analysis exists on how many students receive special education services. The following study collected population data on students with visual impairments for the 2017–2018 school year and ran focus groups with state-level administrators to understand current and future options to collect population data. Twenty-three of 50 states responding to the survey reported total population data. On average, states supported 3.6 times the number of students with visual impairments reported in their federal Child Count data reports. State administrators agreed a federal mandate requiring states to collect total population data on students with visual impairments is needed. The ramifications of preparing for and supporting an unknown population of students with disabilities was discussed. A federal mandate for total population data collection is unlikely in the near future. Therefore, practical implications, including key factors and logistics, that state administrators should consider are outlined.

在美国，视力障碍学生的患病率各不相同，但对有多少学生接受特殊教育服务的分析有限。以下研究收集了2017-2018学年视力障碍学生的人口数据，并与州级行政人员进行了焦点小组讨论，以了解当前和将来收集人口数据的选择。接受调查的50个州中有23个报告了总人口数据。平均而言，各州所支持的视障学生人数是其联邦“儿童计数”数据报告中报告的3.6倍。州行政人员同意一项联邦命令，要求各州收集视力障碍学生的总人口数据。讨论了为不知名的残疾学生做准备和支持的后果。联邦政府不太可能在不久的将来收集总人口数据。因此，概述了国家管理人员应考虑的实际影响，包括关键因素和后勤保障。