State Criteria for Determining Disproportionality. Quick Turn Around (QTA) / Joy Markowitz.

This report is a brief analysis of the criteria states use to determine if there is a disproportionately high or low number of students from a particular racial/ethnic group receiving special education services, assigned to a disability classification, or placed in an educational environment. Recent information indicates that 29 states have adopted specific criteria to examine state and district data. The report begins by reviewing provisions under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that require states to collect and examine data to determine if significant disproportionality based on race is occurring with respect to identification and placement of students with disabilities. Findings from the review of the 29 states using specific criteria are then discussed. Ten states use a percentage point discrepancy to determine disproportionality. Under this system, the percentage of each racial/ethnic group in the total student population is calculated and then the percentage of each racial/ethnic group in each disability category is calculated. Ten states apply a statistical significance test to determine if their data are disproportionate. The use of other criteria in the remaining nine states is described. The report closes with a list of issues that should be considered regarding data collection. (CR)

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