Blog #4 Overrepresentation

Overrepresentation refers to “unequal proportions of culturally diverse students in special education programs” (Jimenez and Graf, 2008, 137). The overrepresentation of minority students is an ongoing problem, though, the federal government, state and local school districts, and special educators have worked diligently to significantly reduce this practice. But it hasn’t been enough.

Subjectivity, how our judgement is shaped by personal opinion, has clouded our minds to the reality. Subjectivity is wonderful when it comes to a painting, the furniture you purchase, or your clothes, it makes us the unique human beings that we are, but in Special Education it has been disastrous, specifically for the Black (non-hispanic) population, according to Table 5.1 of Education for All on page 139, black students ages 6-21 were out categorized to white students approximately 4.75:1 for mental retardation, and 2.5:1 for emotional disturbance. You may think that may be an “old” statistic, well, keep in mind that is from 2001-02.

What can be done to continue to alleviate this problem? Subjectivity can be utilized as professionals we must use that subjectivity carefully, it is subjectivity that can help us in suspected disability cases, opinions do count for something but date driven information is the key. RTI (response to intervention)-a “multi-tier approach to early identification and support of students with learning and behavior disabilities”, (http://www.rtinetwork.org/learn/what/whatisrti) and culturally responsive instructional practices, cultural responsiveness is “the extent to which research and practice in instruction and assessment take into consideration the cognitive, linguistic, and social assets of an individual”. (Jimenez and Graf, 2008, 147.) Used in conjunction we can continue to battle overrepresentation.

On a personal note, patience can go a long way. We may have students that we struggle with, and fail to connect with but we must not allow our subjectivity to go above and beyond our professional abilities.