Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Special Education - A Multi-Year Disproportionality Analysis by State, Analysis Category, and Race/Ethnicity

Oct 15, 2026

Racial and ethnic disparities in special education are examined through a multi-year study that analyzes disproportionality patterns by state, analysis category, and race/ethnicity. The report defines a methodology using risk ratios and statistical thresholds based on deviations from national medians, and it explains how to calculate districts exceeding defined benchmarks. It also outlines key limitations and provides guidance for interpreting tables across multiple years and disability categories.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages41

Reading Time1 h 43 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Purpose

Data and Methodology

Limitations

How to Read the Tables

Tables

RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION A MULTI-YEAR DISPROPORTIONALITY ANALYSIS BY STATE, ANALYSIS CATEGORY, AND RACE/ETHNICITY OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES U. S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FEBRUARY 2016 CONTENTS List of Tables............................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Purpose.........................................................................................................................................................................................4 Data and Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................... 5 Data......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Calculating and Intepreting Risk Ratios .................................................................................................................. 5 Calculating the Number and Percent of LEAs Exceeding ED’s Example Risk Ratio Thresholds ......7 Limitations .................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 How to Read the Tables .........................................................................................................................................................9 Tables ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Percent and number of districts with a risk ratio that exceeds two median absolute deviations (MADS) above the national median with a minimum cell size of 10 for three years (2011–12, 2012–13, and 2013–14), by state and race/ethnicity: All disabilities .................................................................................................................. 11 Table 3. Percent and number of districts with a risk ratio that exceeds two median absolute deviations (MADS) above the national median with a minimum cell size of 10 for three years (2011–12, 2012–13, and 2013–14), by state and race/ethnicity: Speech or language impairment .............................................................................. 15 Table 5. Percent and number of districts with a risk ratio that exceeds two median absolute deviations (MADs) above the national median with a minimum cell size of 10 for three years (2011–12, 2012–13, and 2013–14), by state and race/ethnicity: Intellectual disability .................................................................................................... 19 Table 6. Percent and number of districts with a risk ratio that exceeds two median absolute deviations (MADs) above the national median with a minimum cell size of 10 for three years (2011–12, 2012–13, and 2013–14), by state and race/ethnicity: Other health impairment ............................................................................................ 21 Table 7. Percent and number of districts with a risk ratio that exceeds two median absolute deviations (MADs) above the national median with a minimum cell size of 10 for three years (2011–12, 2012–13, and 2013–14), by state and race/ethnicity: Autism ................................................................................................................................. 23 Table 8. Percent and number of districts with a risk ratio that exceeds two median absolute deviations (MADs) above the national median with a minimum cell size of 10 for three years (2011–12, 2012–13, and 2013–14), by state and race

FAQs

Which kinds of disability categories are included in the tables?

The tables cover multiple categories, including all disabilities and specific categories such as speech or language impairment, intellectual disability, autism, and other disability-related groups.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn Holloway