Examining the Root Causes of Racial Disproportionality: Analyzing the Role of Beliefs, Policies, and Practices in the Production of Disproportionate Outcomes in Special Education and Discipline

• In Event: Poster Session 1
  In Poster Session: Schools and Communities: Factors in Social Context

Abstract

The American educational system has a troublesome history with racial disproportionality in disciplinary outcomes and special education placement and classification. This paper takes up the complexity associated with identifying the root causes of disproportionality. It employs a document and content analysis of 5 school district’s “Root Cause Reports” which are a compilation of qualitative and quantitative data points related to disproportionality. The “Root Cause Reports” were generated by a technical assistance center that works in partnership with disproportionate school districts to identify beliefs, polices and practices contributing to disparate outcomes. Findings indicate 1) disproportionality tends to manifest more in middle and high schools; 2) practitioner beliefs about students and notions of colorblindness permeate all districts in the study.

Authors

• Maria G. Hernandez, New York University

• Catherine Kramarczuk Voulgarides, New York University

• Patrick Jean-Pierre, New York University

• Alexandra Aylward, New York University