Why should parents, educators, and community members be concerned about disproportionality?
A. For ethnic minority students, misclassification or inappropriate placement in special education programs can have devastating consequences. The problem is exacerbated when it results in a child’s removal from the regular education setting, the core curriculum, or both. Students faced with such exclusionary practices are more likely to encounter a limited curriculum and lower teacher expectations. As a result, these students often have more negative post-school outcomes as evidenced by their lack of participation in post-secondary education and limited employment opportunities. In some districts, the disproportionate representation of ethnic minority students in special education classes also results in significant racial separation. This situation raises concerns that unlawful racial segregation may be occurring, in violation of Title VI.
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- Why should parents, educators, and community members be concerned about disproportionality?
