Stratified medicalization of schooling difficulties

Reconceptualizing Parents as Policy Agents Within Special Education

“…Paradoxically, more recent research using student-level data and predictive modeling suggests that Black, Indigenous, and Latinx students may not be getting appropriate educational resources because they are underrepresented within SE (Elder et al, 2021;Hibel et al, 2010). In other words, White students may be more likely to receive SE supports and services than Black, Indigenous, and Latinx students (Elder et al, 2021;Fish, 2022). Furthermore, studies consistently find that a child's disability and educational needs are not the primary factors that drive SE decisions (Artiles et al, 2020;Mehan et al, 1986).…”

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Research on the implementation of SE indicates that there are critical inequities along the lines of race and gender in student access to and treatment within SE (Artiles, 2019;Fish, 2022).Beyond the inequities within SE implementation, recent reports indicate that as student behavioral challenges and mental health needs are reaching unprecedented levels, referrals to SE are falling, and the quality of services, supports, and accommodations that students receive within SE appears to be declining (Stelitano et al, 2022). Federal civil rights complaints-including those filed on behalf of students with disabilities-are also at a record high (Green, 2023).

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“…Research on the implementation of SE indicates that there are critical inequities along the lines of race and gender in student access to and treatment within SE (Artiles, 2019;Fish, 2022).…”

“…Federal special education (SE) law under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) requires equal access to education regardless of disability, yet research has consistently documented racial injustices in the law’s implementation (Annamma et al, 2016; Artiles, 2019; Harry & Klinger, 2014; Skiba et al, 2008). For example, a child’s race affects their likelihood of referral to SE, the disability label they receive, and their access to the general education learning environment (e.g., Fish, 2022; Harry & Klinger, 2014; National Center for Education Statistics, 2022; Skiba et al, 2008). Research on the implementation of SE indicates that there are critical inequities along the lines of race and gender in student access to and treatment within SE (Artiles, 2019; Fish, 2022).…”

A Critical Appraisal of the Evidence on Racial Disproportionality in Special Education

“…describe this problem as "endogenous selection bias" as well as "colliders. "Knox and Mummolo (2020) describe covariates like these as a problem of mediation coupled with selection bias.3 Morgan, et al (2015);Hibel, et al (2010);Hibel, et al (2008);Morgan and Hu (2023);Morgan, et al (2012);Shifrer, et al (2011);;Morgan et al (2020);Mann, et al (2007);Sullivan and Bal (2013);Bal et al (2019);Fish (2019);Fish (2022); Shrifrer and Fish (2019).4 Morgan, et al (2017);Morgan et al (2020);Bal et al (2019);Fish (2019);Fish (2022); Shrifrer and Fish (2019).…”