Minorities and Special Education

2264 Words5 Pages

Disproportionate identification of minority students in special education is a major concern in schools today. This paper describes the issues in the assessment process with minority students and how we have arrived at a situation where minorities are being misdiagnosed into special education programs. Additionally, several legal cases are mentioned which show numerous actions and rulings that have tried to correct the disproportionate identification in special education. Some of the legal cases discussed include Larry P. v Riles, Diana v. State Board of Education, and Guadalupe v. Tempe Elementary School, which all significantly impacted special education today. Additionally, the Individual with Disabilities Education Act has enforced that minority groups must receive an equal education in the least restrictive environment possible. It is our duty as teachers and citizens to abide by these laws and find different ways to assess and correct the disproportionality of minority groups that exists today. In general, disproportionality refers to the overrepresentation or underrepresentation of a minority group within special education programs and services. The disproportionate representation of minority students in special education has been an ongoing and significant matter in education for decades. More and more minority children are being identified as disabled or having an intellectual disability and/or learning disability. However, in most cases the children are being misdiagnosed and, consequently, are being discriminated and penalized in a variety of ways. Some of the leading causes of disproportionate identification are incorrect evaluations, poor assessment practices, and lack of instruction and assistance f... ... middle of paper ... ...ponsive Educational Systems. Retrieved from http://www.ldonline.org/article/-5603. Disproportionality: Inappropriate Identification of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children (2006). National Education Association. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/-mf_PB02_Disproportionality.pdf. Donovan, M. Suzanne and Christopher T. Cross (2002, August). Minority Students in Special and Gifted Education. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/lib/drexel/-docDetail.action?docID=10032383. 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. Miller, M. L. (2011). Introduction to Assessment and the Referral Process: Assessment [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from http://drexel.blackboard.com/.

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