Essay Minorities in Special Education - 2006 Words

The education system is arguably the most beneficial system in the world; however, it also contains many controversial practices. Proper funding, discrimination, and curriculum are just some of the problems in today’s education system. Everyone has a different opinion about what is best for our children and it is impossible to please everyone. As long as the educational system is in tact, then there will be confusion and debate within the system and its’ administrators. The only thing that can be done is attempting to make it so that everyone will benefit equally, but this is much more difficult than one would assume. I will focus on the aspect of discrimination on minorities within special education and more†¦show more content†¦About 75% of African American students, as compared to 47% of white students, are not employed two years after graduation. 52% of African Americans, compared to 39% of young white adults, are still not employed three to five year s out of high school. During this same period of time, 40% of African Americans with disabilities have been arrested, compared to only 27% of whites (Losen, Orfield, p. 1 for all above information). These statistics seem to represent a form of discrimination against minorities; however, the whole picture is not taken into account. Minorities are more likely to come from low-income neighborhoods where there is more crime and usually less job opportunities. This information is not taken into account while conducting this survey and it make the results seem lob-sided. Although minority students are over represented within the special education system, it may be because of several other important aspects. Black/Minority students are more likely to attend schools with less overall capital, fewer funds for curricula, inexperienced teachers, and poor teacher morale. This can cause quite a difference between minorities and their white counterparts. White students generally attend more qualified and academic-enriched schools and are more likely to be from rich neighborhoods where income is not as significant a factor. Low income plays a major role concerning black/minority students in which ends up leadingShow MoreRelatedMinorities and Special Education Essay2250 Words   |  9 PagesDisproportionate identification of minority students in special education is a major concern in schools today. This paper describes the issues in the assessment process with minority students and how we have arrived at a situation where minorities are being misdiagnosed into special education programs. Additionally, several legal cases are mentioned which show numerous actions and rulings that have tried to correct the disproportionate identification in special education. Some of the legal cases discussedRead MoreMinority Groups And The Minority Group Within Special Education1698 Words   |  7 PagesDisproportionality 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 beingRead MoreRepresentation Of Minority Groups : Special Education1693 Words   |  7 PagesTo: Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education From: Evan Sadrakula Date: April 15, 2016 Subject: Disproportionality of Minority Groups in Special Education Introduction Some students are subject to unequal representation at school, particularly those in a minority group. 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This issue applies to various subgroups, but this paper will focus specifically on the overrepresentation of minority students, African AmericansRead MoreAn Interview About Special Education920 Words   |  4 PagesIndependent School District was asked to partake in an interview about the disproportionality of African Americans students in special educati on programs. In the interest of confidentiality, the interviewee’s name will not be disclosed throughout this paper. To discuss questions surrounding the aforementioned topic, it was important to gather the educator’s experiences about special education programs in general. In her third year of teaching she taught in a self-contained classroom, where students had severeRead MoreAfrican American Students And Special Education923 Words   |  4 PagesIn education, the main goal is for all students to receive an equal and optimal opportunity for success, which also includes students with special needs. 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