The concept of disproportionality of minorities being represented in special education was not something that was discussed or even touched upon when I was going through undergraduate school. I was not aware of this issue or even what it was until I was in the field. I recently took two undergraduate special education courses and it was discussed in detail. I am glad that it is becoming more common knowledge for educators. I work in a urban school district that is extremely diverse. This is not an issue that has really been addressed or argued over. We have such a wide range of learners that I feel that we are able to see past their ethnic or racial backgrounds and see them all as learners.
One great way to help alleviate this problem is the RTI model. This gives educators certain tiers that they have to follow when providing interventions to students. It also is data driven so teachers are accountable for their decisions and can't move forward with the referral process before having adequate evidence of a true problem.
The one area where I feel that there is a struggle even in my diverse community is ESL learners. They are often mistaken as having a learning problem rather than a language barrier. Even when an educator sees that it a language barrier, they are not sure what to do to better assist the child and feel that they may be better served in a self contained classroom where they move at a slower pace. It has even been suggested that they have ESL units where there are only students that have English as a second language enrolled in them. This totally goes against the research that shows that immersing these students in the general classroom being surrounded by English speaking students is best practice.
I feel that a solution to this problem is to provide ample Professional Development to educators which gives them strategies to use in order to help these learners. There is an ESL coordinator which works for the district and also provided ESL services to students. She offered a workshop to teachers which focused on teaching them how to translate worksheets, tests and Power Points into other languages. Our book discussed "Diana V. California Board of Education" on page 137. It is now so easy to translate documents to other languages, there is no reason why students should be dealing with this issue. She also talked about the benefits of giving these students a buddy that they may sit by that is fluent in both English and their native language. These were some easy and helpful tips to help students better succeed that may be perfectly capable of learning but may be struggling with the language being used in the classroom.
Great point girls about Professional Development. It is a possible solution to so many issues and challenges (not just disproportionate placement) new and veteran educators are experiencing in today's classrooms. There is so much emphasis on the academics with standards etc. but there needs to be training provided for all areas of need for the students. With the increase of ELL students in the public schools, I have noticed more services and accommodations for them. All of the teacher manuals our school district uses have sections for all lessons and concepts that target the ELL students. They are even helpful for the language developing students early child educators have. Our County also services ELL. I had two students one year (Arabic and Chinese) and the county provided me with websites, materials and resources to use with them. They also have the teachers assess the ELL students several times a year and they will track them throughout their school career. If progress isn't being made, then these students become targeted for added interventions. Solutions in some areas are coming faster than others. The point is the Services and training have to be available to make RTI and CRI a successful option.
ReplyDeleteWhen I said "County" I was referring to Trumbull County Educational Services. They service all the school districts in Trumbull County. I should have stated that.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with all of you concerning the issue of Professional Development! I think it is extremely important that teachers continue their education in order to keep up with current issues in the field of education. We should not take a child's education lightly. In order for us to better educate our students, we must be equipped with up to date information and strategies that will help to educate each and every child that we encounter. Just as an example, I personally would not go to a doctor who was not educated on the latest medical advances. In the same sense, why would a parent want their child being taught by a teacher who was not up to date with relevant issues in education? I believe that Professional Development promotes competence among educators and gives them the tools to become a better educator to help all students.
ReplyDeleteGood point Catherine. Many teachers are looking for professional development in those areas and it isn't always easily available. School systems providing it for their district employees in those targeted areas is a solution.
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