Blacks, Mostly Males, are Misdiagnosed or Misplaced into Special Education Programs

Black children constitute 17% of all students, but comprise 41% of all special education placements, primarily educable mentally retarded and behavior disorders. Black boys disproportionately are 85% of the Blacks in special education.  Black students in classes for educable mentally retarded pupils has exceeded the generally accepted 2% expected level (Bureau of Education for Exceptional Students, 1985).

Not only is this data alarming, but it has also been recognized that some Blacks, mostly males, are misdiagnosed or misplaced into special education programs. The numbers are disproportionate and an overrepresentation of Black placed in special education. A continuing problem in the public school system is the disproportionate and overrepresentation of Black students in certain types of special education classrooms ( Ysseldyke & Algozzine, 1983).

Along with the overrepresentation of this same group of students are classrooms for gifted pupils (Bureau of Education for Exceptional Students, 1985). Gifted children who are culturally different, are overlooked because many of them are underachievers (Wilgosh, 1991). 

Bureau of Education for Exceptional Students, (1985). Administrators management conference: Education for exceptional students. Tallahassee: Florida Department of Education.Ysseldyke, J. & Algozzine, B. (1983). Introduction to special education. Boston: MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.  Wilgosh, L. (1991). Underachievement and related issues for culturally different gifted children. International Journal of Special Education, 6, 82-93.