Shared Data Reveal The Invisible Achievement Gap Of Students In Foster Care

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Shared Data Reveal the Invisible Achievement Gap of Students in Foster Care

Author : WestEd
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 3 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (16 download)

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Book Synopsis Shared Data Reveal the Invisible Achievement Gap of Students in Foster Care by : WestEd

Download or read book Shared Data Reveal the Invisible Achievement Gap of Students in Foster Care written by WestEd and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 3 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At any given time, tens of thousands of children and youth in the U.S. are in the foster care system. Many have been abused, neglected, or abandoned, and they face a challenging journey of uncertainty, often not knowing where they will live next, where they will go to school, or whether they will have contact with friends and relatives. Child welfare professionals work diligently to support children in foster care but typically have no access to information about what happens during a large part of these children's lives--school. Similarly, educators often have no information about a student's foster care status. The lack of data makes it difficult, if not impossible, for adults to fully understand and support the academic needs of students in foster care. For the last few years, The Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning at WestEd has been working toward bridging this data divide in California, the state with the largest number of children and youth in foster care. Through funding from the Stuart Foundation, WestEd staff and a number of partners brokered a first-ever data-sharing agreement between the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Department of Education (CDE) as a critical step toward better understanding and serving the academic needs of youth in foster care. The initiative resulted in the report, "The Invisible Achievement Gap: Education Outcomes of Students in Foster Care in California's Public Schools"--a first-of-its-kind analysis linking statewide data from the child welfare and education systems, giving a fuller picture than ever before available of all K-12 students in the state's foster care system. This article discusses the data revealed in the initiative's report, which showed that students in foster care are a unique, at-risk group in desperate need of the kind of targeted support often provided to other at-risk subgroups. Findings also revealed a more detailed picture of how and why this population is struggling academically. [This article was first published in WestEd's R&D Alert, Vol. 15, No.1, 2014.].

Shared Data Reveal the Invisible Achievement Gap of Students in Foster Care

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 3 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (89 download)

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Book Synopsis Shared Data Reveal the Invisible Achievement Gap of Students in Foster Care by :

Download or read book Shared Data Reveal the Invisible Achievement Gap of Students in Foster Care written by and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 3 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Invisible Achievement Gap

Author : Vanessa X. Barrat
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 98 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (889 download)

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Book Synopsis The Invisible Achievement Gap by : Vanessa X. Barrat

Download or read book The Invisible Achievement Gap written by Vanessa X. Barrat and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 98 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

A Silent and Significant Subgroup

Author : Michelle Lisa Lustig
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 220 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (256 download)

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Book Synopsis A Silent and Significant Subgroup by : Michelle Lisa Lustig

Download or read book A Silent and Significant Subgroup written by Michelle Lisa Lustig and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Children and youth in foster care comprise a significant subgroup of low performing students in public schools today. The current climate of accountability has created the need for education and child welfare professionals to address the unique needs of students in foster care to increase academic achievement. Additionally, recent legislation in California, such as AB490 and AB 1808 modified the Education Code and Welfare and Institutions Code. These mandates include a requirement that the unique educational circumstances of foster children are addressed by child welfare, public education and the judiciary. This study explores strategies and interventions that may increase the academic achievement of students in foster care. The study compares academic outcomes for foster youth receiving tutoring services from three different programs. These findings speak to the impact of supplemental academic support services and the practical application of these services for this vulnerable population. The findings serve to inform public education, child welfare and Foster Youth Services programs throughout the State of California and across the United States.

Climbing a Broken Ladder

Author : Nathanael J. Okpych
Publisher : Rutgers University Press
ISBN 13 : 1978809182
Total Pages : 177 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (788 download)

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Book Synopsis Climbing a Broken Ladder by : Nathanael J. Okpych

Download or read book Climbing a Broken Ladder written by Nathanael J. Okpych and published by Rutgers University Press. This book was released on 2021-01-15 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although foster youth have college aspirations similar to their peers, fewer than one in ten ultimately complete a two-year or four-year college degree. What are the major factors that influence their chances of succeeding? Climbing a Broken Ladder advances our knowledge of what can be done to improve college outcomes for a student group that has largely remained invisible in higher education. Drawing on data from one of the most extensive studies of young people in foster care, Nathanael J. Okpych examines a wide range of factors that contribute to the chances that foster youth enroll in college, persist in college, and ultimately complete a degree. Okpych also investigates how early trauma affects later college outcomes, as well as the impact of a significant child welfare policy that extends the age limit of foster care. The book concludes with data-driven and concrete recommendations for policy and practice to get more foster youth into and through college.

Too Many Children Left Behind

Author : Bruce Bradbury
Publisher : Russell Sage Foundation
ISBN 13 : 1610448480
Total Pages : 224 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (14 download)

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Book Synopsis Too Many Children Left Behind by : Bruce Bradbury

Download or read book Too Many Children Left Behind written by Bruce Bradbury and published by Russell Sage Foundation. This book was released on 2015-06-30 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The belief that with hard work and determination, all children have the opportunity to succeed in life is a cherished part of the American Dream. Yet, increased inequality in America has made that dream more difficult for many to obtain. In Too Many Children Left Behind, an international team of social scientists assesses how social mobility varies in the United States compared with Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Bruce Bradbury, Miles Corak, Jane Waldfogel, and Elizabeth Washbrook show that the academic achievement gap between disadvantaged American children and their more advantaged peers is far greater than in other wealthy countries, with serious consequences for their future life outcomes. With education the key to expanding opportunities for those born into low socioeconomic status families, Too Many Children Left Behind helps us better understand educational disparities and how to reduce them. Analyzing data on 8,000 school children in the United States, the authors demonstrate that disadvantages that begin early in life have long lasting effects on academic performance. The social inequalities that children experience before they start school contribute to a large gap in test scores between low- and high-SES students later in life. Many children from low-SES backgrounds lack critical resources, including books, high-quality child care, and other goods and services that foster the stimulating environment necessary for cognitive development. The authors find that not only is a child’s academic success deeply tied to his or her family background, but that this class-based achievement gap does not narrow as the child proceeds through school. The authors compare test score gaps from the United States with those from three other countries and find smaller achievement gaps and greater social mobility in all three, particularly in Canada. The wider availability of public resources for disadvantaged children in those countries facilitates the early child development that is fundamental for academic success. All three countries provide stronger social services than the United States, including universal health insurance, universal preschool, paid parental leave, and other supports. The authors conclude that the United States could narrow its achievement gap by adopting public policies that expand support for children in the form of tax credits, parenting programs, and pre-K. With economic inequalities limiting the futures of millions of children, Too Many Children Left Behind is a timely study that uses global evidence to show how the United States can do more to level the playing field.

2017-2018 Foster Care Education Data

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 11 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (128 download)

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Book Synopsis 2017-2018 Foster Care Education Data by :

Download or read book 2017-2018 Foster Care Education Data written by and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 11 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Children and youth in foster care are a relatively small population of students in Colorado's K-12 schools. However, they experience the largest academic achievement gap as a group. The dropout rate for children and youth in foster care continues to be significantly higher than Colorado's state average.

Former Foster Youth in Postsecondary Education

Author : Jacob P. Gross
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 331999459X
Total Pages : 178 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (199 download)

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Book Synopsis Former Foster Youth in Postsecondary Education by : Jacob P. Gross

Download or read book Former Foster Youth in Postsecondary Education written by Jacob P. Gross and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-05-15 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the attainment gap between foster youth and their peers. Specifically focusing on post-secondary access and success for foster youth, Gross points out the challenges foster youth face in the primary and secondary school context, such as being less likely to complete high school. These barriers to former foster youth continue once enrolled in post-secondary education, and can manifest as lack of institutional support, financial barriers, and limited to no familial support. The author discusses what policy makers and practitioners need to know to better support the educational attainment of former foster youth.

The Impact of Foster Care on Pursuit of Higher Education

Author : Tiffany Barker
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 212 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis The Impact of Foster Care on Pursuit of Higher Education by : Tiffany Barker

Download or read book The Impact of Foster Care on Pursuit of Higher Education written by Tiffany Barker and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau, the foster care population currently includes nearly 400,000 children (2013). In 2012, in California alone, over 43,000 students in grades K-12 were in foster care. Research has shown students in every type of placement performed far worse than their non-foster care peers. Furthermore, in high school, students in foster care had the highest dropout rates and the lowest graduations than any other students (Wiegmann et.al 2014). This academic achievement gap demonstrates foster youth are at an extreme disadvantage compared to their counterparts who never experience foster care. If foster youth perform behind their peers in primary school, this achievement gap is likely to follow them on their path to higher education. Other researchers have found only 20% of former foster youth who meet college entrance requirements actually go to college (Unrau et al. 2012) and less than six percent of former foster youth have a college education (Fessler 2010). These facts reveal foster care negatively impacts students' academic performance and their ability to receive higher education. The present study looks at former foster youth who have graduated from high school and have successfully transitioned into higher education. In-depth interviews with ten former foster youth currently enrolled in a California State University were conducted in order to answer the following research question, "How have former foster youth currently enrolled in college been prepared and challenged on their path to higher education?" The interviews were analyzed and coded. Four themes emerged from the data: 1. Choosing to Take the Road towards Higher Education, 2. Educational Resources and Support Networks, 3. Finding Support and Strength, and 4. Personal Motivation and Self-Reliance. Personal backgrounds, religious beliefs, and past experiences from student's macrosystems and chronosystems motivated them to pursue higher education. Various support networks, financial assistance, and education resources associated with their exosystem helped prepare students for the academic barriers they would encounter on their path to conquering their academic goals. Lastly, assistance and support from family, friends, teachers, and other microsystems as well as their own personal motivation and self-reliance enabled their dreams of going to college to become a reality. Using the Bioecological Systems theory, this research revealed how different ecological systems have both negatively and positively affected interviewees' abilities to become successful college students.

Elementary School Supports and Services to Increase the Academic Achievement of Students in Foster Care

Author : Omar Zavalza
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 115 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (125 download)

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Book Synopsis Elementary School Supports and Services to Increase the Academic Achievement of Students in Foster Care by : Omar Zavalza

Download or read book Elementary School Supports and Services to Increase the Academic Achievement of Students in Foster Care written by Omar Zavalza and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 115 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is a significant achievement gap for students in foster care, evidenced by low academic performance, high rates of absenteeism and disciplinary referrals, and an overrepresentation in special education programs. Research indicates that the difficulties students in foster care face span domains of social, emotional, behavioral, and academic functioning. Consequently, it is important for schools to recognize and respond to the unique needs of students in foster care to provide the necessary resources for academic success. The intention of this study was to examine and better understand what programs and support services elementary school principals believe are most effective in assisting elementary schools students in foster care achieve academically. The research was conducted within a southern California elementary school district and the research sample included eight interviewees. Participants responded to questions about perceptions of the current programs and support services provided to foster care students in their district and their insight on additional programs and supports needed to foster a positive learning environment and ensure their continued success. The participants revealed three major themes that they have experienced through their work with students in foster care. These themes included Social and Emotional Supports, Consistent Communication and Collaboration, and Continuous Professional Development. Future research in this area might provoke policymakers, district, and school leaders to assist in enhancing the educational experiences and outcomes of students in foster care by recognizing their differing needs and guiding teachers to ensure all students move forward in equitable ways.

From Foster Care to College

Author : Royel M. Johnson
Publisher : Teachers College Press
ISBN 13 : 0807782572
Total Pages : 120 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (77 download)

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Book Synopsis From Foster Care to College by : Royel M. Johnson

Download or read book From Foster Care to College written by Royel M. Johnson and published by Teachers College Press. This book was released on 2024-10 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How do youth placed in foster care aspire to and access college? This book chronicles the lives and experiences of 47 college students navigating the challenging terrain of the United States’ foster care system. Through insightful, in-depth interviews, Johnson offers insight into the harsh realities of how our nationÕs education, welfare, and other social systems often intertwine in ways that diminish the potential and opportunities for these young people. Yet amidst the adversities, these stories resonate with themes of hope, resistance, and possibility. Guided by resilience theory and other asset-based concepts, Johnson sheds light on the protective mechanisms that enable postsecondary access and success, even in the face of towering barriers. Beyond exposition, this book is a clarion call to educators, school and university leaders, and child welfare champions to stand tall and act decisively. The goal? To transform the precarious circumstances of young people in foster care, and dismantle the obstacles that thwart their educational pursuits and dreams. Book Features: Employs critical and asset-based theories and concepts that recognize the agencies, desires, and possibilities of youth in foster care.Brings attention to the intersectionality of identities and social structures that shape students’ educational pathways.Identifies system failures across education and child welfare sectors and how they interact with one another.Presents findings from empirical research about risks and protective factors that influence success at critical junctures along the college-going pipeline.Offers recommendations for various stakeholders who seek to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of youth in foster care.

An Exploration of Foster Youth Academic Performance Trajectories and Predictors of Group Membership

Author : Kristine Frerer
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 170 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (769 download)

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Book Synopsis An Exploration of Foster Youth Academic Performance Trajectories and Predictors of Group Membership by : Kristine Frerer

Download or read book An Exploration of Foster Youth Academic Performance Trajectories and Predictors of Group Membership written by Kristine Frerer and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For many maltreated youth between the ages of eight and fourteen, challenges associated with the family environment and entry into foster care placement compromises their ability to function and learn. Though prior research indicates that the educational attainment of foster youth is poor, negative performance is reported as though it is a unitary phenomenon among foster students, overlooking population heterogeneity. While collectively foster youth may have increased risk due to maltreatment and removal from home, correlates including educational risks prior to entry, child welfare case characteristics, and residential and school changes may be associated with differences in foster youth academic performance trajectories. Performance levels on the California Standards Test in English language arts and math are followed longitudinally for four years for first-time entries to foster care from two California counties between school years 2003 and 2006. In addition to an all foster youth sample, foster youth are matched closely to students in the general population by Propensity Score Matching on key educational risks and performance level the year prior to foster care entry. Covariates include achievement gap variables such as ethnicity, disability, and English language learner status in addition to six child welfare case characteristics and five time sensitive residential and school change factors. Group-based analysis and multinomial logistic regression are used to determine the number and type of distinct academic performance trajectories and to examine whether group membership is associated with out of home placement, education risk factors, and child welfare case characteristics. As variance within academic performance is indicated by six distinct English language arts and five math academic performance trajectories, findings support the current research approach to explore heterogeneity with educationally vulnerable populations. Analyses indicate that foster youth and comparison student academic performance trajectories in English and math are similar which suggests that educational vulnerability for foster youth is related to characteristics that exist prior to placement in out of home care. These findings are echoed in the foster youth sample, where pre-placement educational risks are more salient predictors of negative trajectories than experiences associated with foster care placement. For some foster youth, residential and school changes lead to decreased adjustment and academic performance. In particular, poor English academic trajectories are associated with same year normative school transitions and entrance into foster care. Overall, lower performing trajectory groups are defined by an increased number of education risks present at entry and residential and school changes in the first year of placement. Group-based analysis can be an important statistical method for both child welfare and education personnel. Youth entering out of home placement or those identified as at-risk are not homogenous groups. Rather, there are meaningful subgroups within these populations that follow distinctive educational trajectories. By identifying clusters or groups of student trajectories, profiles of characteristics within and among groups can aid in uncovering educational strengths and challenges and lead to policies and practices which support improved academic trajectories for vulnerable youth.

The Effects of the Lack of Parental Involvement on the Academic Achievement of African American Students in Foster Care

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 104 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (92 download)

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Book Synopsis The Effects of the Lack of Parental Involvement on the Academic Achievement of African American Students in Foster Care by :

Download or read book The Effects of the Lack of Parental Involvement on the Academic Achievement of African American Students in Foster Care written by and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The subject of parental involvement has been an ongoing topic of discussion in the education system for many years. With recent educational reforms that have a primary focus on achievement gap, there is a new urgency to find solutions to ensure academic success for all students. For African American families, parental involvement is done in a way that is different than the recognized method of most traditional school districts. The recognition of home-based involvement, as opposed to school-based involvement, has opened the doors to a new opportunity to engage parents in a way that is typical for specific cultures. African American children in foster care, however, face unique challenges. Not only are they members of a culture that practice a traditionally unrecognized method of parent involvement, they are also missing the essential parent element that should be there working toward their success. The effects of the lack of parental involvement for these students are detrimental to their academic achievement. There is a need to find effective and long-term solutions for these students, and it must begin with the collaborative effort of schools, child welfare agencies, and community organizations."--leaf 4.

Examining the Educational Experience of Foster Children Through the Perspective and Expectations of Multiple Adult Stakeholders

Author : Kevin Kowalczyk
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 216 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (721 download)

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Book Synopsis Examining the Educational Experience of Foster Children Through the Perspective and Expectations of Multiple Adult Stakeholders by : Kevin Kowalczyk

Download or read book Examining the Educational Experience of Foster Children Through the Perspective and Expectations of Multiple Adult Stakeholders written by Kevin Kowalczyk and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are roughly 400,000 children in the foster care system throughout the United States. Many of these children enter care after experiencing some sort of physical or emotional trauma. This trauma has a potentially damaging impact on the educational achievement of this scarred population. The data show that these children are at high risk for poor educational achievement. With the help of caring adults, these children can overcome barriers and achieve academic success. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the educational experience of students in foster care through the perspective and expectations of multiple stakeholders and to investigate the role that stakeholders play in the educational achievement of foster children. This qualitative study gained insight into the perspective that stakeholders have of the educational experience of foster children. In addition, this study investigated the expectations that stakeholders have of the educational achievement of foster children. Adult stakeholders0́4including foster parents, caseworkers, and school officials0́4are important for children in foster care as they serve as advocates and as a source of consistent educational support. The participants in the study included three certified foster parents, three caseworkers and four school officials who have all had contact with school-age foster children. Through the use of open-ended interview questions, the researcher gained insight into the perspective that stakeholders have of the educational experiences of foster children in their care, as well as the expectations they have for the academic achievement of the foster child. The study identified seven themes0́4including trauma, relationships, impactful people, established habits, communication, realistic expectations, and motivation0́4that stakeholders believe contribute to the academic successes and failures of children in foster care. The theoretical framework selected to better understand the stakeholders' perceptions and expectations of the achievement of foster children, and their role in impacting foster children's educational experiences, was Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model (1979). Limitations, recommendations for future studies, and implications for practice were also discussed.

Educational and Other Needs of Children in Foster Care

Author : Virginia. Commission to study education and other needs of children in foster care
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 10 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (123 download)

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Book Synopsis Educational and Other Needs of Children in Foster Care by : Virginia. Commission to study education and other needs of children in foster care

Download or read book Educational and Other Needs of Children in Foster Care written by Virginia. Commission to study education and other needs of children in foster care and published by . This book was released on 1946 with total page 10 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Closing the Opportunity Gap

Author : Prudence L. Carter
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0199983003
Total Pages : 337 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (999 download)

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Book Synopsis Closing the Opportunity Gap by : Prudence L. Carter

Download or read book Closing the Opportunity Gap written by Prudence L. Carter and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2013-04-26 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While the achievement gap has dominated policy discussions over the past two decades, relatively little attention has been paid to a gap even more at odds with American ideals: the opportunity gap. Opportunity and achievement, while inextricably connected, are very different goals. Every American will not go to college, but every American should be given a fair chance to be prepared for college. In communities across the U.S., children lack the crucial resources and opportunities, inside and outside of schools that they need if they are to reach their potential. Closing the Opportunity Gap offers accessible, research-based essays written by top experts who highlight the discrepancies that exist in our public schools, focusing on how policy decisions and life circumstances conspire to create the "opportunity gap" that leads inexorably to stark achievement gaps. They also describe sensible policies grounded in evidence that can restore and enhance opportunities. Moving beyond conventional academic discourse, Closing the Opportunity Gap will spark vital new conversations about what schools, parents, educators, and policymakers can and should do to give all children a fair chance to thrive.

Minority Students in Special and Gifted Education

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309170818
Total Pages : 497 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Minority Students in Special and Gifted Education by : National Research Council

Download or read book Minority Students in Special and Gifted Education written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2002-08-30 with total page 497 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Special education and gifted and talented programs were designed for children whose educational needs are not well met in regular classrooms. From their inceptions, these programs have had disproportionate representation of racial and ethnic minority students. What causes this disproportion? Is it a problem? Minority Students in Special and Gifted Education considers possible contributors to that disparity, including early biological and environmental influences and inequities in opportunities for preschool and K-12 education, as well as the possibilities of bias in the referral and assessment system that leads to placement in special programs. It examines the data on early childhood experience, on differences in educational opportunity, and on referral and placement. The book also considers whether disproportionate representation should be considered a problem. Do special education programs provide valuable educational services, or do they set students off on a path of lower educational expectations? Would students not now placed in gifted and talented programs benefit from raised expectations, more rigorous classes, and the gifted label, or would they suffer failure in classes for which they are unprepared? By examining this important problem in U.S. education and making recommendations for early intervention and general education, as well as for changes in referral and assessment processes, Minority Students in Special and Gifted Education will be an indispensable resource to educators throughout the nation, as well as to policy makers at all levels, from schools and school districts to the state and federal governments.