Bias in Special Education Identification Rarely Flagged by States
By Christina Samuels on March 16, 2015 12:05 PM http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2015/03/special%20education%20bias.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitterRelevance: This article is a review of a report that looks at how we identify students needing special ed services and looks at numbers that seem to indicated that minority students are often over identified. It raises the question of whether a national standard needs to be created.
Audience: The article is directed to special educators at all levels.
Jane thanks again for sharing. This does make me look at the students in the classrooms I am in and wonder about identification and reasons of appropriateness. When looking at minorities and sped there seems to be more in my experience (anecdotal), but I don't know what to think. IF a student needs and is eligible for services then they should get services- mis-identification is a problem, but I often wonder about the lower SES and minorities that they don't have the means or supports that those of higher SES or majorities have and thus may be identified at higher rates. I do think there needs to be an accountability more than a specific "number/percentage" system. Flagging the school and districts can be helpful as long as the data and situations are analyzed objectively and fairly.
ReplyDeleteJane thanks again for sharing. This does make me look at the students in the classrooms I am in and wonder about identification and reasons of appropriateness. When looking at minorities and sped there seems to be more in my experience (anecdotal), but I don't know what to think. IF a student needs and is eligible for services then they should get services- mis-identification is a problem, but I often wonder about the lower SES and minorities that they don't have the means or supports that those of higher SES or majorities have and thus may be identified at higher rates. I do think there needs to be an accountability more than a specific "number/percentage" system. Flagging the school and districts can be helpful as long as the data and situations are analyzed objectively and fairly.
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