Diverse or Disabled? The Improper Use of Special Education

1250 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Disproportionality in special education research essay

The overrepresentation of minority cultures in special education is the result of minority children being referred to special education who do not have a disability but rather a cultural barrier that hinders their learning. One of the most pressing issues in special education today is the overrepresentation of minorities. Overrepresentation means that there is a higher percentage of a certain group in special education than that of the same group in regular education. This overrepresentation indicates that children from minorities are being placed in special education not due to a disability, but due to a cultural or language barrier. . . . African American, Latino/a, and Native American students score less well on standardized tests. [Achievement] gaps persist in additional levels of achievement, such as grades and class rank. . . . In addition, African American students are more likely to be placed in special education classes and, once placed, are less likely to be mainstreamed or returned to regular classes (Davis, 96). Minorities are at a greater risk for being referred to special education. In his article, Hoover discusses risk ratios of minorities being moved to special education. Risk ratios are numbers that show how likely it is that an event will occur. A risk ratio of above one means that one particular event is more likely to happen than the control event, or one that has a risk ratio of less than one. “. . . Hispanic, African American, and American Indian students have risk ratios of 1.1, 1.34, and 1.53, respectively, as compared to the risk ratio of .86 for nonminority students. . .” (Hoover, 40). Children raised in poverty display behaviors that are sometimes mistaken for emotional and behavioral disorders. Chi... ... middle of paper ... ... placing children in special education costs money and resources that are already scarce. In order to provide the best education for all students, teachers must be careful to refer only those who are truly disabled and not simply different. Works Cited Davis, Bonnie M. How to Teach Students Who Don't Look like You: Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2012. Print. Hoover, John J. "Reducing Unnecessary Referrals: Guidlines for Teachers of Diverse Learners." Teaching Exceptional Children 44.5 (2012): 39-47. Print. Lieberman, Laurence M. Preserving Special Education For Those Who Need It. Newtonville, MA.: GloWorm Publications, 1988. Print. Ysseldyke, James E., and Robert Algozzine. The Legal Foundations of Special Education: A Practical Guide for Every Teacher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2006. Print.

Show More
Related

  • Planning to End Ableism through Universal Design for Learning

    2133 Words  | 5 Pages

    Hehir, T. (2009). New directions in special education: Eliminating ableism in policy and practice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.

    Read More

  • Culturally Responsive Classroom Case Study

    1333 Words  | 3 Pages

    Incorporating the culture of the disabled into the culturally responsive classroom and curriculum will help these students feel accepted and welcomed into the class. This in turn will help them become successful academically. Teachers can do so by learning about the history of their students’ culture and creating instructional strategies that meet their diverse needs and abilities; demonstrating values and using techniques that include rather than exclude disabled students; and maintaining high but appropriate expectations. Teachers can create culturally responsive curriculum by using materials that are free of bias and stereotypes as well as finding ways to include different cultures and learning styles into every lesson possible. An effective teacher is one who can master the skill of culturally responsive

    Read More

  • The Educational Achievement Gap between African American and Minority Students in Elementary Schools in America

    1461 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...vironments then blacks. Minority students are being over represented in special education programs. As an African American, I will need to prepare myself for my future as an educator. When I become a teacher, I may encounter a student that has difficulties keeping up with his peers. I need to know whether this student is a slow learner or a victim of the achievement gap. This research has taught me abo¬ut the factors that have disproportionately affected African-American, Latino, Asian, and other non-white students. I will use this information to contribute to both my future research and career.

    Read More

  • Disproportionality In Special Education Essay

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    A longstanding national issue that continues to concern the public is the disproportionate representation of children from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds in special education. The fact is that the proportion of minority students in the population of school-age children has risen dramatically to over 35%, which is increasing the diversity of students in many public schools throughout the nation. This makes the phenomenon of disproportionality especially troubling. With a growing population of minority children comprising a greater percentage of public school students, we must be responsive to the growing needs of an increasingly diverse society. The overrepresentation of minority students in special education has been posed as an issue for more than 3 decades, but it is worth asking whether the efforts of legislative actions, educational reforms and legal challenges have really made improvements to this issue. More importantly, disproportionality should be examined as a correlation to underlying conditions that can pose a great effect upon not only the quality of a child’s education, but also ______.

    Read More

  • Inclusion of Children with Disabilities

    3024 Words  | 7 Pages

    This controversy may stem from the fact that inclusion is expensive and experts disagree about how much time disabled students should spend in regular classrooms (Cambanis, 2001). Although this topic is controversial, it cannot be ignored. Inclusion will, at some point, affect 1% of all children born each year, who will have disabilities and the families and educators they will come in contact with (Stainback, 1985).

    Read More

  • Achievement Gap

    1449 Words  | 3 Pages

    The achievement gap is defined as the disparity between the performance groups of students, especially groups defined by gender, race/ethnicity, ability and socio-economic status. The achievement gap can be observed through a variety of measures including standardized test scores, grade point averages, drop out rates, college enrollment and completion rates. The Black-White achievement gap is a critical issue in modern society’s education system. Although data surrounding the issue clearly indicates that the racial performance gap exists in areas of standardized tests, graduation rates, dropout rates, and enrollment in continuing education, the causative reasons for the gap are ambiguous—therefore presenting a significant challenge in regard to the most effective way to close the gap. The gap appears before children enter kindergarten and it persists into adulthood (Jencks 1998). Since 1970, the gap has decreased about 40 percent, but has steadily grown since. Theories suggest the Black-White achievement gap is created by a multitude of social, cultural, and economic factors as well as educational opportunities and/or learning experiences. Factors such as biased testing, discrimination by teachers, test anxiety among black students, disparities between blacks and whites in income or family structure, and genetic and cultural differences between blacks and whites have all been evaluated as explanations for the Black-White achievement gap (Farkas 2004). The research that follows will elaborate on these factors as they affect the decline in academic performance of black males—particularly the literacy achievement of black males.

    Read More

  • The Explosive Child

    1599 Words  | 4 Pages

    Bryant, D. P., Smith, D. D., & Bryant, B. R. (2008). Teaching Students with Special Needs in

    Read More

  • Minorities in Special Education

    2005 Words  | 5 Pages

    The education system is arguably the most beneficial system in the world; however, it also contains many controversial practices. Proper funding, discrimination, and curriculum are just some of the problems in today’s education system. Everyone has a different opinion about what is best for our children and it is impossible to please everyone. As long as the educational system is in tact, then there will be confusion and debate within the system and its’ administrators. The only thing that can be done is attempting to make it so that everyone will benefit equally, but this is much more difficult than one would assume. I will focus on the aspect of discrimination on minorities within special education and more specifically the following questions: Does the special education system discriminate against minorities? If so, how? What can be done, if anything, to correct or improve this system?

    Read More

  • Affirmative Action and Capital Punishment

    1177 Words  | 3 Pages

    A minority student is generally classified as belonging to a lower-income family than the average white American, who is classified by earning a higher income. A student belonging to a low-income family will not have the same opportunities as a student from a high-income background. A student from a high-income family will be able to afford more study aids and supplies. A student from a low-income family, generally a minority, does not have access to these resources. Because they frequently cannot afford the same materials as their white counterparts, they generally do not perform as strongly on standardized tests. Wealthy families are generally very well educated. They have greater knowledge of how to guide their children in the right direction for academic success. Some can afford a private school with better teachers and a more comfortable learning environment. Paying for college is easier, and academics often take greater priority in these well-to-do households. Usually, poorer families have a harder time paying for college and supporting their children. Schools in low-income areas tend to lack funding for good teachers and supplies because of their financial situation. More often than not, the main goal of these families is to have their children get through high school so that they can begin ea...

    Read More

  • African Americans In Education Essay

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    Education is sometimes viewed as a pathway to a better lifestyle. Many people are more privileged and have higher education than others. Minority students, on average, perform less well than white students in school; although, Asian-Americans are an exception to this rule (Melissa Doak). Various resources show the statistical differences among ethnic races in their performance of education. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, minorities with lower levels of education have higher unemployment rates and lower median incomes (National Center for Educational Statistics). Education in minority groups can greatly differ from other races, when education should be equal and available for all.

    Read More

  • Minorities and Special Education

    2264 Words  | 5 Pages

    Harry, Beth (1994, August 1). The Disproportionate Representation of Minority Students in Special Education: Theories and Recommendations. Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov:80/PDFS/ED-374637.pdf.

    Read More

  • Inclusion in the Classroom

    1625 Words  | 4 Pages

    Mazurek, K. & Winzer, M.A. (Eds.). (1994). Comparative Studies in Special Education. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Special Education

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, it still met with inconsistent criticism due to the myth that “positive intervention” doesn’t work and draining resources of regular courses. However, evidences shown prove the opposite effect. Special education is constant need of more funding – especially when it constantly gets budget cuts from congress and thus, schools are unable to keep up with the afford to provide the necessary need of special education (Wall 2014). So the myth of special education draining resources is the no way the truth. How could they be able to drained resources from other students if the programs themselves are in limited supply? Lack of understanding and easy to become a scapegoat for the blame of overall score of a school being poor is quite easy to pit the blame. Another reasoning is due to socialization—the label of being placed in special education is rather an unfortunate burden that could follow the child (Huerta 2015). Often times, stereotypes are attached and are considered inferior to other students, potentially adding onto potential fears. In order to improve any form of education for special education, funding a provided them resources should be considered the first thing to look

    Read More

  • Education as a Social Institution

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...trated in the inner city where the worst, most impoverished schools are located. Therefore, even if they wish to attend school, they still receive have less access to good teachers and a good learning environment. And perhaps the most detrimental issue that minorities face is that they are often stigmatized as inferior. This causes them to be treated differently and it causes them to have low expectations for themselves, which leads to poor performance.

    Read More

  • Inclusivity in the Australian Education System

    1187 Words  | 3 Pages

    Inclusivity is a concept that has been spreading throughout the Australian education system. Many educators have discussed this concept in conferences, lunch rooms and union meetings. Australia has a diverse population. For this reason, that there are massive difference in the cultures and beliefs among the different races in Australia. It is necessary to develop an education system that acknowledges these differences and creates an ideal environment for all the students to learn. Inclusion involves adjusting the curriculum to include all students. It involves creating a school environment where those with disabilities and those without learn in the same classroom (Mackey, 2014). This means that it is different from special education. Inclusivity involves identifying education needs, making adjustments to the curriculum and coming up with a progressive program (Department of Education, 2013).

    Read More

More about Diverse or Disabled? The Improper Use of Special Education

Open Document