Racial Inequity in Special Education: Implications for Federal Policy

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

Racial inequity in special education is focused on concerns about not just the over-representation or under-representation of racial groups in certain categories, but the restrictiveness of the educational setting and disparities in disciplinary removal. Further, special education identification and placement in the continuum of school grouping and sorting will be explored as part of a discussion of how racial inequity in education and society at large generally manifests itself in special education. We will explore what is known about contributing factors including implicit and explicit racial bias, the historical roots of the issue, and the possible contribution of inequity in school resources. The contribution of poverty and concerns about federal policy implementation, monitoring and enforcement will be discussed.

Sub Unit

• Social Justice Action Committee

Chair

• Daniel Losen, University of California - Los Angeles

Speakers

• Russell J. Skiba, Indiana University

• Elizabeth B. Kozleski, The University of Kansas

• Alfredo J. Artiles, Arizona State University

• Beth Harry, University of Miami

Discussant

• Kristen Harper, U.S. Department of Education