ARE PENNSYLVANIAS SCHOOLS RACIST?
African-Americans and Hispanics in the Pennsylvania school system are more likely to be labeled “learning disabled” than in other school systems, according to a recent study. • African-Americans account for 16 percent of the national student population, but comprise 32 percent of the students in special education programs. • In Pennsylvania, African-American males in predominantly white schools are 89 percent more likely to be classified as learning-disabled, mentally retarded or emotionally disturbed than those attending predominantly minority schools — with Hispanic males, the rate is 33 percent. • By contrast, teaching reading skills rigorously at an early age could prevent about 2 million children nationwide from being labeled “learning disabled,” estimates Reid Lyon of the National Institutes of Health — who believes that there is a link between learning disabilities and ineffective reading instruction. However, the link between disabilities and literacy does not seem to explain
