Diverse Learners

Disproportionate Representation

A serious concern for many students of color, special needs students, male students, and ELLs is disproportionate representation. Research has shown that these students often end up being overrepresented in terms of disciplinary actions, usually due to cultural differences or misunderstandings. In addition, diverse learners tend to be overrepresented in special education programs and underrepresented in gifted and talented programs and extracurricular activities. These disparities in access to a fair education are often detrimental to students' motivation and learning (and in some cases can lead to legal action). We provide schools with technical assistance to identify and address over- and under-representation of subgroups in gifted programs, special education programs, high- and low-level courses, extracurricular activities, and discipline practices.

We help schools analyze data to identify over- and under-representation of subgroups in gifted programs, special education programs, high- and low-level courses, extracurricular activities, and discipline practices. We also assist administrators in reviewing and revising policies surrounding disproportionate representation and provide schools with educational resources.