The states got their first-ever federal report cards this week judging them on how well they are implementing the nation's main special education law. The state-by-state results were posted on the Education Department's Web site today.

Hawai'i was one of only nine states found to be fully meeting the requirements of the largest part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as the law is called. The section is a $10.5 billion program providing students aged 3 to 21 with specialized programs to fit their educational needs.

The other eight states are Alaska, Connecticut, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming.

The rest of the states were labeled as "needs assistance" or, worse, "needs intervention." If they don't improve within a few years, they could face sanctions such as the loss of federal aid.

One common trouble spot for states was ensuring that students with disabilities have a smooth transition from the public school setting to college or into the work force. The law says 16-year-old special-ed students are supposed to receive help developing plans for life after public school. Much more thought and work needs to go into those plans, according to the department.

Another weak spot is state oversight regarding how well local school districts' are complying with the special-ed law.

The reviews are based on information the states submitted to the federal government as well as monitoring visits and other publicly available data, according to the Education Department.