Minorities Are Disproportionately Underrepresented in Special Education: Longitudinal Evidence Across Five Disability Conditions
Minorities Are Disproportionately Underrepresented in Special Education: Longitudinal Evidence Across Five Disability Conditions
 
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Educational Researcher
June 24, 2015

Paul L. Morgan, Pennsylvania State University
George Farkas, University of California, Irvine
Marianne M. Hillemeier, Pennsylvania State University
Richard Mattison, Pennsylvania State University
Steve Maczuga, Pennsylvania State University
Hui Li, Pennsylvania State University
Michael Cook, Pennsylvania State University

Abstract
We investigated whether minority children attending U.S. elementary and middle schools are disproportionately represented in special education. We did so using hazard modeling of multiyear longitudinal data and extensive covariate adjustment for potential child-, family-, and state-level confounds. Minority children were consistently less likely than otherwise similar White, English-speaking children to be identified as disabled and so to receive special education services. From kindergarten entry to the end of middle school, racial- and ethnic-minority children were less likely to be identified as having (a) learning disabilities, (b) speech or language impairments, (c) intellectual disabilities, (d) health impairments, or (e) emotional disturbances. Language-minority children were less likely to be identified as having (a) learning disabilities or (b) speech or language impairments.

 
 
News Coverage
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Is Special Education Racist?
Education Week, July 8, 2015

Ethnic, Racial and Language Minority Youth Disproportionately Underrepresented in Special Education
Latin Post, July 7, 2015

The Racial Imbalances of Special Education
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Big News or Flawed Research? The New Special Education Controversy
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The Supreme Court's Disastrous Misreading of the Fair Housing Act
The Wall Street Journal, June 30, 2015

The Special Education Narrative That May Not Be Right
Washington Monthly, June 29, 2015

Minorities Less Likely To Be Identified as Disabled
Diverse Education, June 29, 2015

New study challenges previous research about special education students
89.3 KPCC, June 26, 2015 

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Washington Examiner, June 25, 2015

Study on Minorities in Special Education Proves Provocative
Education Week, June 25, 2015

Minority Children are Unrepresented in Special Education
OC Weekly, June 25, 2015

Minorities Less Likely to Be Identified for Special Education, Study Finds
Education Week, June 24, 2015

What You Thought About Minority Students and Special Ed Is Wrong
U.S. News & World Report, June 24, 2015

More Minority Students Should Be In Special Ed, Study Says
Huffington Post, June 24, 2015

Is Special Education Racist? (op-ed)
New York Times, June 24, 2015

Morning Education: Challenging Special Education Policy
Politico, June 24, 2015

 
 
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