The training result comes from the specialists interviewed
Thirty-two of 44 strategic-instruction and special-education teachers interviewed by GAO rated their professional-learning opportunities as bad or very bad. That is 72.7% of the interviewed specialists, not a survey estimate for every DOD teacher.
GAO visited 11 schools in five of the nine Department of Defense Education Activity districts. Those districts served 63% of DOD students with identified specific learning disabilities, but the school sample was selected and the parent questionnaire was opt-in.
Staff at all 11 schools wanted a way to provide input on future professional learning. Staff at nine said they needed more or better screening tools.
| Indicator | Finding | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Specialists rating training bad/very bad | 32 of 44 | Interviewed teachers |
| Schools citing screening-tool need | 9 of 11 | Selected schools |
| Students receiving strategic instruction | About 10% | Approximately 60,000 full-time students, 2024–25 |
| Students with specific learning disability | About 5% | DODEA full-time students, 2024–25 |
DOD has a scheduled response, but implementation is still ahead
DODEA officials said in July that they had procured universal screening tools for all grades and planned initial administration in November or December 2026. That is a concrete response, not proof that screening gaps have already closed.
GAO made eight recommendations covering screening, rejected referrals, evaluation delays, teacher feedback, intervention training, data access and delivery of support. DOD agreed with five and partially agreed with three.
The original contribution is to separate the strong within-sample signal from a national percentage claim: the interviewed specialists reported a widespread training problem, while the audit design does not support extrapolating 72.7% to the entire DODEA workforce.
Sources and further reading
GAO-26-108038: DOD Schools’ Literacy and Math Supports, August 26, 2026 ↗