Title

Disproportionality in Special Education: A Persistent Reality for African American Students

School/Department

School of Education

Publication Date

2015

Abstract

The disproportionate representation of African Americans in special education continues to be a prevalent, disturbing, and heavily debated problem, and possibly the most long-standing issue in the special education field. African American students are overrepresented in three disability categories (emotionally behavioral disorder, intellectual disability, and specific learning disability), all of which are prone to subjective judgment. The current literature indicates the following reasons as possible explanations for this persistent problem: failed general education system, inequities in special education referral and identification process, test bias, as well as a lack of access to effective instruction. This paper provides definitions of disproportionate representation, an explanation of categories of disability, and explores the use of multi-tiered academic interventions.

Keywords

African American students; Special education

Publication Title

Justice, Spirituality & Education Journal

Volume

3

Issue

1

First Page

1

Last Page

14

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