What is disproportionality?
A. In general, disproportionate representation, or disproportionality, refers to the over- or under-representation of a given population group, often defined by racial and ethnic backgrounds, but also defined by socioeconomic status, national origin, English proficiency, gender, and sexual orientation, in a specific population category. A child’s race and ethnicity significantly influence the child’s probability of being misidentified, misclassified, and inappropriately placed in special education programs. Research shows the relationship between race and ethnicity and other variables for students’ placement in special education classes. Variables such as language, poverty, assessment practices, systemic issues, and professional development opportunities for teachers have been cited as factors that play a role in disproportionate representation.
• Disproportionate representation, or disproportionality, refers to comparisons between given population groups, often defined by race and ethnicity, but also defined by socioeconomic status, national origin, English proficiency, gender, and sexual orientation, who are identified for special education services. • In some cases, the percentage of an ethnic or racial group identified for special education services may be less than the percentage represented in the population in general. In this case, the group may be described as disproportionately underrepresented. • In other cases, a particular ethnic or racial group is represented in special education at a greater rate than the general population, and that group is said to be disproportionately overrepresented.
Related Questions
- Do disproportionality/disparate outcomes happen because families of color maltreat their children more often than white families?
- What is the most recent evidence regarding racial disproportionality and disparate outcomes for children in Kentucky?
- Are disproportionality and disparate outcomes in child welfare problems only in Kentucky?
