scholarly journals Examining Learning Disabilities in Schools through an Intersectional and Equitable Lens

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enoch Leung
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Culturally And Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Disproportionate Representation ◽  
Special Education Services ◽  
Education Services ◽  
Education Data ◽  
To Receive

This book chapter examines the intersection between learning disabilities (LD) and other marginalized identities to understand the diverse experiences of students with LDs and the disproportionalities that exist in LD identification and support in schools. Largely driven by the history and evolution of inclusion of disabilities in schools, Response to Intervention (RtI) arose as a model designed to increase academic performance among students with and without disabilities. Though RtI is a model shown to minimize inappropriate identification of LDs, intersectionality must be taken into consideration to understand the disproportionate representation of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students in special education. Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress suggest social factors (e.g. socioeconomic disadvantages, racial and ethnic intersection) as a potential cause for disproportionate representation and points to a need to further understand the disproportionality of different groups of students being over- or under-identified to receive special education services.

A Systematic Review of Boundary-Crossing Partnerships in Designing Equity-Oriented Special Education Services for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students With Disabilities

2020 ◽  
pp. 074193252098347
Author(s):  
Dosun Ko ◽  
Dian Mawene ◽  
Kate Roberts ◽  
Joan J. Hong
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Culturally And Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Boundary Crossing ◽  
Special Education Services ◽  
Education Services ◽  
K 12

Providing quality special education services for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students with or at risk of disabilities is a double bind, a larger systemic conundrum beyond individuals’ efforts. To create an inclusive, culturally responsive system of support beyond the fragmented division of roles and nonconcerted assemblage of practices and tools, there is a need to explore the possibility of boundary-crossing collaboration for CLD students with disabilities. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the broader literature investigating K-12 school-based boundary-crossing collaborations among multiple stakeholders to address the unique academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs of CLD students with or at risk of disabilities. Eight studies met the criteria for inclusion. Features of boundary crossers, problems of practice that boundary crossers collaboratively sought to address, emerging tensions in building partnership, facilitators of boundary-crossing communication and collaboration, learning experiences of boundary crossers, and learning outcomes of CLD students with or at risk of disabilities are reported and further discussed.

scholarly journals RTI for Students Presenting with Behavioral Difficulties:Culturally Responsive Guiding Questions

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Abou-Rjaily ◽  
Susan Stoddard
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Culturally Responsive ◽  
Challenging Behaviors ◽  
School Personnel ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Culturally And Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Special Education Services ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Education Services ◽  
Guiding Questions

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a tiered intervention that assists school personnel in determining eligibility for special education services. Studies support the use of RTI as an early intervention for addressing significant learning disabilities (SLD) and social emotional behaviors, as well as for students who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) and not making progress through general interventions. However, recommendations for implementation are not explicitly provided, especially for culturally responsive implementation.  While proposed as a model for students with challenging behaviors, there is an absence of culturally responsive methods to support CLD students. This article will discuss the use of culturally responsive guiding questions in an RTI framework.

Diagnosing Written Language Disabilities Using the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Educational Achievement—Revised and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test

2000 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Brown ◽  
Marc J. Giandenoto ◽  
Larry M. Bolen
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Educational Achievement ◽  
Achievement Test ◽  
Written Expression ◽  
Special Education Services ◽  
Specific Test ◽  
Education Services ◽  
Individual Achievement ◽  
Woodcock Johnson

The writing portions of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Educational Achievement–Revised and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test are often administered when establishing eligibility for special education services due to learning disabilities. The scores on these measures are typically regarded as equivalent although little is known about how scores on the two measures differ for the same students. Differences of only a few points, however, may affect eligibility for special education services. These tests were administered to 25 sixth grade students previously diagnosed with learning disabilities in written expression only. Students' Wechsler scores were consistently higher on the overall writing composite, while there was no difference in the mean scores on the language mechanics subtests. The WIAT Written Expression subtest mean, however, was significantly higher than the Woodcock-Johnson Writing Samples subtest mean. Use of the Wechsler test would be less likely to identify children for special education services in written expression when point discrepancy criteria are utilized for eligibility. Clinicians should be cognizant of the effect of the specific test chosen on eligibility outcome.

Transition Into and Out of Special Education Services by Young Australian School Children Between 2006 and 2010

2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Dempsey
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
School System ◽  
Special Education Services ◽  
Australian School ◽  
School Students ◽  
Education Services ◽  
The Status ◽  
Education Support ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Over Time

The extent to which school students continue to receive special education services over time is largely unknown because longitudinal studies are rare in this area. The present study examined a large Australian longitudinal database to track the status of children who received special education support in 2006 and whether they continued to access such support over a 4-year period. Nearly two thirds of the children receiving additional assistance in 2006 did not receive such assistance 4 years later. There were substantial variations in the principal reason for providing special education services to students over this period, and the relative academic performance of the students who received special education support across the 4 years substantially declined. The findings have ramifications for the way we consider changes in the needs of young children as they progress through the primary school system.

Mainstreaming Students with Learning Disabilities: Are We Making Progress?

1994 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 508-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
James McLeskey ◽  
Debra Pacchiano
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Special Education Services ◽  
Students With Learning Disabilities ◽  
Education Services ◽  
The Past ◽  
Separate Class

This study investigated placement practices for students with learning disabilities over the past 11 years, as reported in the Annual Reports to Congress on the Implementation of P.L. 94–142. From 1979 to 1989, the placement rate for students with learning disabilities being educated in restrictive, separate-class settings almost doubled. Moreover, the proportion of all students with learning disabilities served in separate-class settings increased 4.4%. Little progress is being made toward mainstreaming students with learning disabilities. The article discusses implications of these findings for reform in the provision of special education services.

Exploring the Special Education Advocacy Process According to Families and Advocates

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan M. Burke ◽  
Kristina Rios ◽  
Chung eun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Children With Disabilities ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Special Education Services ◽  
Education Services ◽  
Family Outcomes ◽  
Parent Advocate ◽  
To Receive

Although many parents report needing advocates to receive special education services for their children with disabilities, the advocacy process is largely unexplored especially in relation to school and child outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the special education advocacy process by conducting interviews with nine parent–advocate dyads. Findings indicate that advocates and parents agreed on the advocacy process. Participants reported that schools often responded positively to the advocate; however, some schools were confrontational and surprised. Regardless of the school’s response, advocates and parents perceived that advocacy positively influenced child and family outcomes. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.

Evidence-Based and Culturally Sustaining Practices for Diverse Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

2021 ◽  
pp. 105345122110510
Author(s):  
Vandana Nandakumar ◽  
Nikita McCree ◽  
Ambra L. Green
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Behavioral Disorders ◽  
Emotional And Behavioral Disorders ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Diverse Students ◽  
Special Education Services ◽  
Education Services ◽  
Diverse Backgrounds ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Referrals For Special Education

Children from diverse backgrounds are more likely to receive special education services for emotional or behavioral disorders. These data validate the research that advocates for practitioners to use evidence-based and culturally sustaining practices. This article discusses how strategically implemented, evidence-based, and culturally sustaining practices can assist in preventing inaccurate referrals for special education services.

Special Education and School Achievement: An Exploratory Analysis With a Central-City Sample

1999 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur J. Reynolds ◽  
Barbara Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Math Achievement ◽  
Central City ◽  
School Achievement ◽  
Elementary Grades ◽  
Special Education Services ◽  
Education Services ◽  
Reading And Math

Is placement in special education during the elementary grades associated with higher school performance? To shed light on this question, we investigated the relationship between participation in special education programs during Grades 1–6 and school achievement among 1,234 low-income children participating in the Chicago Longitudinal Study. About 15% of the study sample received special education services (half in learning disabilities and half in other disabilities), 22% were retained in grade, and 50% changed schools more than once over the elementary grades. Controlling for school achievement prior to placement in special education, as well as for family background school experiences, and school attributes, children receiving special education services had lower reading and math achievement scores than other children, especially during Grades 4–6. Children with learning disabilities benefited less from special education services than did children with other disabilities. Grade retention and school mobility during the primary grades were associated with significantly lower reading and math achievement above and beyond prior achievement and other factors. Continued scrutiny of special education services and retention practices, at least as they currently exist in large cities, may benefit children with learning difficulties.

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