Calcasieu Parish Disproportionality Efforts Valla M. Johnson Calcasieu Parish LMSW, MA, C-SSWS .

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Calcasieu Parish Disproportionality Efforts Valla M. Johnson Valla M. Johnson Calcasieu Parish Calcasieu Parish LMSW, MA, C-SSWS LMSW, MA, C-SSWS www.laspdg.org

Transcript of Calcasieu Parish Disproportionality Efforts Valla M. Johnson Calcasieu Parish LMSW, MA, C-SSWS .

Page 1: Calcasieu Parish Disproportionality Efforts Valla M. Johnson Calcasieu Parish LMSW, MA, C-SSWS .

Calcasieu Parish Disproportionality Efforts

Valla M. JohnsonValla M. JohnsonCalcasieu Parish Calcasieu Parish

LMSW, MA, C-SSWSLMSW, MA, C-SSWS

www.laspdg.org

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PEOPLE FIRST LANGUAGE

Kathie Snow. (n.d.) A few words about People First Language. Disability is Natural. Retrieved August 1, 2012 from http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl-sh09.pdf

Kathie Snow. (n.d.) A few words about People First Language. Disability is Natural. Retrieved August 1, 2012 from http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl-sh09.pdf

“People First Language puts the person before the disability and describes what a person has, not who a person is.”

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What is Disproportionality?What is Disproportionality?

“Disproportionality is the over representation of certain minority/ethnic groups in special education and the underrepresentationof that same minority/ethnic group in gifted education”

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What is required?

• States are required annually to collect and examine state/LEA data to determine whether significant disproportionality based on race/ethnicity is occurring in certain areas. (Gamm, 2010)

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Why is Disproportionality a Problem?

If we find bias or inappropriate practice at any phase of the referral and placement process that leads to disproportionate representation, then we must treat disproportionality as a problem (Heller, Holtzman, & Messick, 1982).

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Risk Ratios in Calcasieu Parish - Special Education Classifications

Race/Ethnicity: Black 2005-2006 2010-2011

All Students with Disabilities 1.23 1.19

Autism 0.55 0.69

Emotional Disturbance 1.29 0.87

Specific Learning Disability 1.59 1.57

Other Health Impairment 0.64 0.74

Speech/Language Impairment 0.82 0.88

Mental Disabilities MD-All 2.51

1.96MD-Mild 3.48

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Calcasieu’s Response

How has Calcasieu Parish addressed this issue of disproportionality?

– Strategic and Action Plans – Hiring of Disproportionality Program

Administrator to implement the plan – School Disproportionality Contact Persons

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Additional Action StepsDisproportionality Training Provided to the following groups:

– All District Level Staff – Principals and Assistant Principals – Counselors– Speech Therapists– School Bus Drivers – Individual Faculties at the school campus– Pupil Appraisal Staff – Special Education Program Facilitators– Behavior Facilitators – Homebound Staff – Vision and Hearing Itinerants – Occupational and Physical Therapists

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Additional Action Steps (continued)

• Hosted a Community Forum with two national speakers addressing disproportionality issues

• Hosted a think tank community meeting in conjunction with Positive Connections addressing Educating Students with Mental Illness: Disproportionality Is Not An Option

• Met with some leaders in the religious community

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Additional Action Steps (continued)

• Appeared on television and radio informing public about events

• Speak at parent nights

• Parent focus groups hosted

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Additional Action Steps (continued)

• Disproportionality Program Administrator makes annual written and/or verbal reports to the school board

• Disproportionality Program Administrator serves on all district level leadership teams

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Roles and Duties of the School Based Disproportionality Contact Persons

• Key contact person and conduit of information and communication from the Disproportionality Program Administrator and school staff

• This person serves as the key knowledge source on disproportionality in their educational setting

• This person will identify staff, student, family and community needs as they relate to disproportionality

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Questions?

You can also contact me at [email protected]

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The contents of this PowerPoint presentation were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H323A110003. However those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

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