wisconsin’s vision for racial equity in education

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Wisconsin’s vision for racial equity in

education

Objectives1. Understand the intersections of race and

disability in Wisconsin’s educational context

2. Understand Wisconsin’s framework for addressing race in education

3. Understand how Wisconsin evaluates projects related to racial equity

4. Take-away detailed information to design full or partial projects

Anything else?

Wisconsin student demographics

….taught by an overwhelmingly white and female teaching force

Racial disproportionality in education

Academic achievement Discipline Special education

Wisconsin’s framework for addressing race in education

Department of Public Instruction Cooperative Educational Service Agencies School Districts Two- and four-year colleges and

universities Community-based organizations

Current initiatives Federal mandates through special education law Technical assistance (beginning in 2005) Annual institute on disproportionality (beginning

in 2005) Mini-grants to school districts (2006, 2009) Demonstration grants (beginning in 2007) Practice grants (beginning in 2007) Statewide systems-change initiative (beginning

in 2008)

Federal special education law 3/20 Indicators focus on disproportionality:

Suspension/expulsion (Indicator 4B) Prevalence in special education (Indicator 9) Prevalence in specific disability categories

(Indicator 10) Required use of 15% of funds in general

education to address disproportionality in special education (Significant disproportionality)

District Level Technical Assistance

Review of Policies, Practices and Procedures

Data Analysis Hypothesis Development Development of Improvement Plans District Liaison

The 2005-2009 Summer Institutes on Addressing Disproportionality

Technical AssistanceData AnalysisImprovement Plan

Development

Mini-Grants (FY 06 – FY 07)

Small competitive grants Awarded to districts and consortia of

districts identified as having ‘Significant Disproportionality’

Funded product, process, or tool that could be replicated

Grant summaries online at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/spp-disp.html

Demonstration Grants (FY 07 – Ongoing)

Medium competitive grants Awards to districts and consortia of

districts identified as having ‘Significant Disproportionality’

Funds institutionalization and replication of data-based, successful project, process, or tool

Grant summaries online at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/spp-disp.html

Project Grants(FY 06 - Ongoing)

Small to medium noncompetitive grants or contracts

Awards to experts Funds develop tools or products based on need

of Wisconsin educators Examples of Project Grants

Racial Disparity in Special Education: District Profile Workbook

Guiding Questions: Differentiating Disordered Behavior from Cultural Mismatch

Culturally Responsive Practices in Schools: Checklist to address disproportionality

Systems-Change Initiative (FY 09 – Ongoing)

Large noncompetitive grant Award to Cooperative Education

Services Agencies Funds implement projects to address

disproportionality and racial equity www.createwisconsin.net

Reflections On being black and female On being white and female Specific project successes and

challenges Recommendations

For More Information: WDPI Special Education Team’s

Disproportionality Webpage: http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/spp-disp.html

Donna Hart-Tervalon, Ph.D.Chairperson, Disproportionality Workgroupdonna.hart-tervalon@dpi.wi.gov

Courtney Reed JenkinsChairperson, Disproportionality Workgroupcourtney.jenkins@dpi.wi.gov

Discussion