Author ORCID Identifier
Rachel E. Fish: 0000-0002-5720-021X
Kenneth Shores: 0000-0003-3039-420X
João M. Souto Maior: 0000-0003-3421-0754
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-5-2025
Publication Title
Exceptional Children
Abstract
This essay provides a two-pronged critical assessment of a subset of the literature on racial disproportionality in special education: that which aims to estimate racial disparities among otherwise similar children. This body of research has shown that Black students are less likely than comparable White students to receive special education, and has been interpreted by many to mean that current policies meant to reduce Black over-representation may be exacerbating inequality. Our essay argues that this subset of research has fundamental limitations in its covariate adjustment practices and its data quality, making “under-representation” findings questionable. We argue that caution and further study are needed for an accurate understanding of the nature of racial disproportionality in special education.
Keywords
special education, racial disproportionality, race, disability
DOI
10.31235/osf.io/p2u5r_v2
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Version
Author's Submitted Manuscript
Recommended Citation
Fish, Rachel E.; Shores, Kenneth; and Souto Maior, Joào M., "A Critical Appraisal of the Evidence on Racial Disproportionality in Special Education" (2025). Education and Child Study: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/edc_facpubs/35
Comments
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