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The Miners’ Canary: A Review of Overrepresentation Research and Explanations (PDF)

The article surveys existing research on disproportionality and outlines three common perspectives used to explain the issue. It is useful for practitioners because it shows how experts have tried to understand factors associated with disproportionality.

 

Citation/Source

Waitoller, F. R., Artiles, A. J., and Cheney, D. "The Miners’ canary: A Review of Overrepresentation Research and Explanations." Journal of Special Education, 44(1), 2010:29-49

Publication Date
2010
Address
Addressing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students: Overrepresentation in Special Education: Guidelines for Parents (ARTICLE)

Addresses the disproportionate representation of culturally and linguistically diverse students in special education and outlines the theoretical assumptions and principles that should guide efforts to reduce the disproportionate representation of these students in special education.

Citation/Source

Janette K. Klingner et al. (2005) Education Policy Analysis Archives.

Publication Date
2005
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Disproportionality and Overrepresentation, Module 5 from Building the Legacy: A Training Curriculum on IDEA 2004 (WEBPAGE)

Includes slideshow, trainers guide, and participant handouts for explaining what states, districts, and schools must now do to address disproportionate representation, including significant disproportionality, as outlined in IDEA 2004.

NOTE:  After September 30, 2014 all of the NICHCY resources will be housed in the Center for Parent Information and Resources Library at http://www.parentcenterhub.org/resources

Citation/Source

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities: NICHCY (2005).

Publication Date
2005
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NOTE: Overrepresentation in Special Education: Does the IDEA Violate the Equal Protection Clause? (PDF)

This law commentary article examines if and how overrepresentation in special education might violate the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Citation/Source

Miles, Alana. 2016. “NOTE: Overrepresentation in Special Education: Does the IDEA Violate the Equal Protection Clause?” Rutgers Race & the Law Review 17 (245).

Publication Date
2016
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School Board Policy - Disproportionality Policy/BP0411 (DOCUMENT)

This Board policy ensures equal access to educational opportunity for all students by minimizing or elimination the impacts of disparities in ability, levels of preparation, available resources and social-cultural differences in achievement and performance. Also, it describes how to prevent disproportionality associated between a child's race or ethnicity and the number and type of special education classifications and placements that result. 

Citation/Source

Mount Diablo Unified School District. 2011. School Board policy - Disproportionality Policy/BP0411. Concord, California: Mount Diablo Unified School District (DOCUMENT)

Publication Date
2011
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The Disproportionality of Latinx Students in Special Education: The Growing Need to Build Relationships (ARTICLE)

This article discusses the overrepresentation of Latinx students in special education. It discusses the root causes of significant disproportionality for Latinx students, pre-referral process and data collection, deficit oriented perspectives and building relationships with student and families.

Citation/Source

Lueimo, P., Bindreiff, D. 2021. The disproportionality of Latinx students in Special Education: The growing need to build relationships. Leadership Magazine. Sacramento, California: Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) https://leadership.acsa.org/jan-feb-2021

Publication Date
2021
Address
Why Are So Many Minority Students in Special Education? Understanding Race & Disability in Schools, 2nd Edition (BOOK)

The book provides a qualitative look into how disproportionality manifests in schools. It is useful for practitioners who want to understand how daily practices contribute to inequitable outcomes.

Citation/Source

Harry, Beth, and Klinger, Janette. Why Are So Many Minority Students in Special Education? Understanding Race & Disability in Schools, 2nd ed. 2014. New York: Teachers College Press.

Publication Date
2014

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Equity in IDEA

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California Department of Education, Special Education Division's special project, State Performance Plan Technical Assistance Project (SPP-TAP) is funded through a contract with the Napa County Office of Education. SPP-TAP is funded from federal funds, (State Grants #H027A080116) provided from the U.S. Department of Education Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the U.S. Department of Education.