| The Disproportionate Representation of
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
in Special Education
Sponsored by the
North Central Regional Resource Center in
partnership with
NCSET and the
OSEP Exiting TA
Community of Practice
Thursday,
February 17, 2005
2:00-3:00 Central Standard Time
(10 a.m. Hawaii, 1 p.m. Mountain, 3 p.m.
Eastern)
The overrepresentation of racially, culturally,
and linguistically diverse students in special
education and the quality of their educational
experiences have been regarded as among the most
significant issues faced by the U.S. public
school system in the past 30 years. Many of the
groups overrepresented in special education are
also those overrepresented among dropouts. The
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) entitles all individuals with
disabilities to a free appropriate public
education (FAPE) and mandates nondiscriminatory
assessment, identification, and placement of
students with disabilities. Yet, disproportion
in special education persists, just 5 percent of
students identified as Asian/Pacific Islanders
are identified for special education, the rate
for Hispanics is 11 percent, for whites 12
percent, for American Indians 13 percent, and
for blacks over 14 percent (National Research
Council, 2002). The
National Center for
Culturally Responsive Educational Systems (NCCRESt)
was funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s
Office of Special Education programs to support
state and local school systems to assure a
quality, culturally responsive education for all
students.
During this teleconference, Dr. Elizabeth B.
Kozleski, Co-Principal Investigator of NCCRESt
and (another presenter to be named) will:
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Describe the issues around disproportionality; |
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Discuss what NCCRESt is doing to close the
achievement gap between students from culturally
and linguistically diverse backgrounds and their
peers; |
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Communicate how NCCRESt is helping state and
local school systems to reduce inappropriate
referrals to special education; and |
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Explain how state and local school systems may access
this information |
Presenters:
Elizabeth B. Kozleski, Ph.D
NCCRESt Co-Principal Investigator
Prior to this teleconference, please read
Addressing diversity in schools: Culturally
responsive pedagogy by Richards, Brown,
& Ford. (PDF: 10 pp, 830 KB)
Instructions for Participation
Dialing In: Dial 1-703-639-1159 a few minutes
before the call begins, and refer to the "NCSET
Teleconference Call"; if asked by the operator.
During the call, if using a speakerphone, please
press the mute button when listening. The only
cost to you is the long distance fee to the 703
area code. You do not need to RSVP to
participate in this call.
What to Expect: The first 30-45 minutes of the
call consists of the speakers' presentation.
Participants are then given the opportunity to
ask questions.
Speaker Phones: To limit static noise, please
press the mute button when listening.
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