History of Special Education
My history of special education timeline is linked here:
https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/1802187
When it comes to current issues in special education, racial disproportionality is a big one. This is basically defined by a disproportion of minority students being placed into special education when they may not necessarily need to be there (Samuels & Harwin, 2018). There is not one specific reasoning behind this issue, though it is heavily believed to have roots in perpetual social injustice and inequities that we still can not fully understand (Skiba et al, 2008). I think this can become an issue when special education departments are inundated with cases and become overworked and understaffed. I feel like it becomes easier to spend less time on evaluating and assessing each student and just lump them into a group where they may not necessarily belong. I feel like this issue of lack of resources can be more heavily felt in schools that have historically higher minority populations in lower income districts that struggle with resources. The Obama administration implemented legislation that helped create a more standardized approach to the management of identifying and serving students with disabilities and managing their special education services. We, as a country, are still fighting perpetual racism and bias based on race, and this definitely floods down into our public education systems. With all of the evolving legislation concerning special education, it is hard for us to keep up with this dynamic process. As an educator, I can see how intensive this process can be and can also understand the role a lack of resources can play in providing the best service to special education services. It can be hard and taxing for departments to remain in compliance with the plethora of special education laws.
Samuels, C., and Harwin, A. (2018) Racial disparities in special ed.: How widespread is the problem. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/01/24/racial-disparities-in-special-ed-how-widespread.html
Skiba, R., Simmons, A., Ritter, S., Gibb, A., Rausch, M., Cuadrado, J., and Choong-Geun, C. (2008). Achieving equity in special education: History, status, and current challenges. Exceptional Children. 74(3), 264-288.
https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/1802187
When it comes to current issues in special education, racial disproportionality is a big one. This is basically defined by a disproportion of minority students being placed into special education when they may not necessarily need to be there (Samuels & Harwin, 2018). There is not one specific reasoning behind this issue, though it is heavily believed to have roots in perpetual social injustice and inequities that we still can not fully understand (Skiba et al, 2008). I think this can become an issue when special education departments are inundated with cases and become overworked and understaffed. I feel like it becomes easier to spend less time on evaluating and assessing each student and just lump them into a group where they may not necessarily belong. I feel like this issue of lack of resources can be more heavily felt in schools that have historically higher minority populations in lower income districts that struggle with resources. The Obama administration implemented legislation that helped create a more standardized approach to the management of identifying and serving students with disabilities and managing their special education services. We, as a country, are still fighting perpetual racism and bias based on race, and this definitely floods down into our public education systems. With all of the evolving legislation concerning special education, it is hard for us to keep up with this dynamic process. As an educator, I can see how intensive this process can be and can also understand the role a lack of resources can play in providing the best service to special education services. It can be hard and taxing for departments to remain in compliance with the plethora of special education laws.
Samuels, C., and Harwin, A. (2018) Racial disparities in special ed.: How widespread is the problem. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/01/24/racial-disparities-in-special-ed-how-widespread.html
Skiba, R., Simmons, A., Ritter, S., Gibb, A., Rausch, M., Cuadrado, J., and Choong-Geun, C. (2008). Achieving equity in special education: History, status, and current challenges. Exceptional Children. 74(3), 264-288.
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