Date/Time: September 4, 2019, 2:00-3:30 ET
Presenters: David Jefferson and Shenikwa Medlock
Description: For far too long, as evidenced by the Civil Rights Data Collection (CDRC) and decades of research, states and districts have looked the other way while students of color are over- and under- identified for special education services, mis-assigned to more restrictive settings, and discipline with harsh practices such as suspension and expulsion; each its own form of discrimination. The Equity in IDEA regulations (now in effect following COPAA's prevailing decision in D.C. Circuit Court on March 7th, 2019) require States to update their method in determining which of their school districts may be engaging in unlawful practices that result in significantly disproportionate numbers of students of color being inappropriately identified as students with disabilities, being placed in inappropriate educational settings and being inappropriately suspended, expelled, secluded and restrained. This session focuses on the need to understand the impact systemic bias has on the ability of children of color and children with disabilities to achieve equity. Presenters will discuss bias-based beliefs in education practice and need for inquiry and interpretation to examine and monitor data for reduction of these beliefs in school improvement (by looking at such things as differential implementation of referral processes or policies, inappropriate approaches to behavior management, inadequate or inappropriate framing of zero tolerance; limited interventions and supports for teams implementing these interventions.