Reimagining Approaches to Dismantling Disproportionality in Special Education and Beyond

Overview & Synopsis

Despite long-standing efforts to address and eliminate disproportionality in special education, inequities remain and continue to negatively impact Black, Indigenous, and other students of color with Individualized Education Programs. This brief from the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) supports state education agencies, local education agencies, offices of special education, providers of technical assistance and professional development or professional learning, and other education leaders to rethink and reimagine how to address disproportionality in special education by addressing inequities in the entire system. In this brief, education leaders will find actionable steps that help to address disproportionality, including: (1) Reimagining Disproportionality in Special Education: The brief encourages a shift from a compliance-focused approach to a more transformative one, emphasizing the need to address disproportionality in special education by confronting the systemic inequities that perpetuate it; (2) Centering Race and Culture: The brief stresses that acknowledging and understanding the impact of race and culture is essential for effective change; (3) Using Data to Uncover Root Causes: The brief highlights the crucial significance of using data to uncover the root causes of inequities and implement effective strategies to disrupt disproportionality; and (4) Fixing Educational Systems, Not Students and Families: The brief emphasizes improving educational systems rather than placing blame on students and their families. [This report was produced with Western Educational Equity Assistance Center.]