Special Educational Needs Policies and Migrant Children in Italian Schools: Toward Real Equal Educational Opportunities?

• In Event: 34.078 - Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: 34.078-16 - At the Intersections of Marginalities

Abstract

This paper critically investigates the underpinnings and the implementation of Special Educational Needs (SEN) policies, in the Italian context of Integrazione Scolastica, through an equity prism. Drawing on Critical Discourse and Policy Analysis as well as on preliminary findings of an on-going qualitative research study, the paper explores the extent to which SEN policies in Italy lead to the development of an inclusive and equal educational experience, particularly when targeting migrant children. A theoretical framework based on Dis/ability Critical Race Studies in education is used to discuss how the new macro-category of SEN is possibly leading to the development of further forms of micro-exclusions in mainstream classrooms, especially of migrant pupils, rather than to inclusion.

Authors

• Valentina Migliarini, Università degli Studi di Roma

• Simona D'Alessio, other

• Fabio Bocci, Università degli Studi di Roma Tre

• Marco Catarci, Università degli Studi di Roma Tre

• Massimiliano Fiorucci, Roma Tre University