Minority Groups And The Minority Group Within Special...

Disproportionality refers to the overrepresentation or underrepresentation of a minority group within special education programs and services. The disproportionate representation of minority students in special education has been an ongoing and significant matter in education for decades. More and more minority children are being identified as disabled or having an intellectual disability or learning disability. However, in most cases the children are being misdiagnosed and consequently, are being discriminated and penalized in a variety of ways. Some of the leading causes of disproportionate identification are incorrect evaluations, poor assessment practices, and lack of instruction and assistance for minority students. Developing a†¦show more content†¦Thus, these students bring many emotional, physical and psychological issues into the classroom that significantly affects they way they learn, think and complete assignments and tests. So, is it the teacher and administrato r s right to poorly assess these students when these factors are not consideration? One of the leading causes of disproportionate identification in special education is the school and teachers themselves. Minority students are more likely to attend urban, inner city schools where many of the teachers are not as experienced when dealing with racially and ethnically diverse classrooms (Donovan Cross, 2002). Thus, these low-income schools are not going to offer advanced classes or top-notch special education programs or services for students. Referral processes, assessment protocols, and programs for students with special needs are likely to be more advanced in suburban schools. In addition, proper funding is always an issue in education; therefore, many schools cannot afford to hire special education teachers or teacher aides to provide additional help and assistance for minority students. Consequently, these minority students are thrown into special education classes and left on the ir own, to develop better language skills and higher academic achievement. Another factor is the question of racially biased referral and assessment practices. Questions always arise whether teachers are correctly