Disproportionate number of minorities and the poor in Special Education

Special Education is my passion. For so long there have been so many injustices in how students are referred to and placed in special education programs.  There is a higher number of minority and low income students in special education programs.  What is really alarming is that there are very low numbers of these same students in gifted and talented programs.  That sterotype needs to be eliminated and the real issue addressed.  My father grew up in a single parent home in the 40’s and 50’s in the segregated south.  He went on to earn his master’s degree in ethnic studies and music and worked as a college professor until his death in 1990.  Today in our so-called “integrated schools” based on his family arrangement the chances of him being placed in a special education program would have been high.  As an educator I have a real problem with this….I found an interesting article I wanted to share from http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/060208/met_285279469.shtml