Culturally Responsive Evidence-Based Practices for Black Males With Emotional Behavioral Disorders

Abstract

Students of color, especially Black males identified as having emotional behavior disorders (EBD), are overrepresented in exclusionary practices. Exclusionary practices, such as in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, and expulsion, negatively impact academic and social–emotional–behavioral outcomes for all students, especially students with EBD. This article identifies the overlapping principles of culturally responsive teaching and culturally responsive pedagogy as theorized by Gay and Ladson-Billings so that teachers of students of color identified with EBD can better support the specific learning needs of their students. These principles are explicitly applied to behavior-specific praise and error corrections, two evidence-based classroom behavioral management practices.