Equity and Disproportionality

The Butte County SELPA advocates for the removal of any and all barriers to learning and inclusion of students with disabilities.  And, our member LEAs recognize the importance of preventing the inappropriate over-identification and/or disproportionate representation by race and ethnicity of students with disabilities within specific eligibility categories, those suspended or expelled at higher than state target rates, those students with disabilities removed from the least restrictive environment, and those placed in separate schools.  We provide training and technical assistance in targeted areas based on annual review of State Performance Plan Indicators for disproportionality.  image of the first slide of closed captioned video on what disproportionality is and how to address it.

Click on the image at the right to listen to a brief video explaining disproportionality by the State Performance Plan - Technical Assistance Project.

At the Butte County SELPA, we believe that a greater understanding is needed by the entire school community about the effects of labels and the associated stigma that can come as a result of inappropriate special education identification and inappropriate application of discipline practices that result in removal of students to more restrictive environments than necessary.  It is with this in mind that we provide the additional study information below.  If you have any questions about this material, please reach out to us at selpasupport@bcoe.org or at (530) 532-5621.

Links 

Butte County SELPA Governing Board Policy on Over-Identification and Disproportionality
Butte County SELPA Technical Assistance Padlet
State Performance Plan - Technical Assistance Project (SPP-TAP) - Complete resources for educational leaders to guide them in addressing equity and disproportionality concerns (Note: this link takes you directly to the e-learning video modules like the one here.)
Equity Tools, Promising Practice, and Research, from the California Department of Education
Ways 2 Equity Playbook, from the Inclusion Collaborative at the Santa Clara County Office of Education

Further Study

Diversity is an Asset - Comprehensive Resources
Do Early Educators' Implicit Biases Regarding Sex and Race Relate to Behavior Expectations and Recommendations of Preschool Expulsions and Suspensions? - Study from Yale University Child Study Center, 2016
Microaggressions in the Classroom - Video by Dr. Yolanda Flores Niemann, University of North Texas
Solving Disproportionality and Achieving Equity: A Leader′s Guide to Using Data to Change Hearts and Minds: Fergus, Edward A.