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 [email protected]
Courtney Reed JenkinsChairperson, Disproportionality [email protected]
Discussion