CONCORD -- The Mt. Diablo school district must change policies, practices and procedures that have led to a disproportionate number of ethnic minority students being identified for special education, suspended or expelled, officials said.
Last May, the California Department of Education instructed the district to remove barriers that prevent each student from receiving an equitable education, after identifying Mt. Diablo as one of 85 districts statewide that was "disproportionate" in relation to special education and discipline referrals. Since then, 45 districts have taken corrective actions that have reversed these trends.
Mt. Diablo, on the other hand, has not significantly improved, according to a report presented by consultant Mary Bacon. The district is looking to the West Contra Costa and San Lorenzo districts, which have approved "equity plans," to get ideas for remedying its problems, she said.
In 2009-10, Hispanics represented 34.3 percent of students but 43 percent of suspensions in the Mt. Diablo district. Similarly, blacks made up 4.9 percent of students, but 15 percent of suspensions.
"Race and ethnicity are powerful predictors of school performance and referrals to special education and to discipline," Bacon said.
Statewide, black students are 48 percent more likely to be assigned to special education than all students, she said.
Read complete article here.
No comments:
Post a Comment