Breaking the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Students with Disabilities

From the conclusion”

“Conclusion There is no question that the statistical picture of special education is bleak. But after its meeting of stakeholders, interviews with experts, and review of the research, NCD believes that IDEA and other related disability laws, with improved enforcement, can and should benefit at-risk students who are properly referred and served. In fact, the interventions and supports developed in special education are the key recommendations in the My Brother‘s Keeper Task Force report and other initiatives to curb the School-to-Prison Pipeline in general education. Special educators and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) should play a leading role in both special and general education reform. However, improved implementation of disability laws alone will not eliminate persistent racial disparities in special education. Enforcement activities must also address race head on to finally ameliorate the problem of disproportionality in special education. “