The disproportionate representation of culturally and linguistically diverse students in exclusionary discipline practices is a well-documented practice in education. This paper synthesizes current literature that points to a cultural incongruence between students and teachers as an underlying mechanism for disparity in school practices involving…

Multicultural and bilingual special education scholars have long advocated that research and practice situate (dis)ability in its social, cultural, racial/ethnic, linguistic, historical, legal, and political contexts. Still, the special education literature reflects more restricted conceptualizations of culture, language, and diversity than…

This paper proposes a model of effective instruction and intervention for English Learners (ELs) within a Response to Intervention (RTI) framework. First, we review literature on effective instruction for ELs and how RTI can address the needs of these students. Then, we describe the PLUSS model, which integrates research on effective instruction…

In this article, we present a review of research studies that address special education literacy instruction for English language learners (ELLs) with learning disabilities (LD) and ELLs with low literacy achievement in elementary and middle school grades. We describe research on the following categories: a) culturally and linguistically…

Professional development that focuses on supporting teachers' abilities to work with diverse families is keenly needed. This article outlines three instructional strategies and how they were used with undergraduate students in an inclusive early childhood teacher education program: (a) involving diverse family members as instructional supports;…

For English Language Learners (ELLs), the process of becoming literate in English is daunting. Not only are these students faced with the same literacy challenges faced by native English-speaking students, but they are also challenged with extensive diversity issues relating to substantial differences in linguistic, cultural, and academic…

In this article the authors review the reading status of urban learners and examine the role of phonemic awareness in reading acquisition. Their review indicates that phonemic awareness alone is not sufficient for reading acquisition, and that phonemic awareness in combination with alphabetic principle is needed to promote reading competence. The…

The failure of our current transition planning for culturally and ethnically diverse students with disabilities has been documented throughout the literature. Despite transition mandates, students with disabilities, particularly those from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds, continue to be unemployed or underemployed. The purpose of…

Contemporary schools are faced daily with the challenge of identifying the instructional needs of migrant learners who are having notable difficulty learning. Given this reality, it is important to consider contemporary questions of special and general education practices. To explore these questions, this article draws from observation in a…

This article provides an overview of the major factors and interventions affecting migrant students' academic performance/outcomes. Factors outside the school, such as poverty, family, and English language proficiency, are discussed. Next, factors inside the school, such as student records, credit accrual, and school curriculum, will be reviewed.…

The authors examine positive behavioral support (PBS) as a behavior management intervention that facilitates the development of appropriate and positive behaviors in culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) children who are at risk for failure in urban schools. One of the major problems facing urban schools today is the abuse and misuse of…

To support educators' knowledge and understanding of child-rearing traditions and beliefs that potentially influence the manner in which Latino parents discipline their children, the author reviewed the professional literature on demographic variables, socioeconomic status, family structure, social supports, and acculturation. Her investigation…

Social skills training (SST) is increasingly being recommended for students with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who often experience social difficulties. Given that sociocultural contexts influence social behavior in ways that may vary the impact SST programs have on minority students with ADHD, there is a need to advance…

Individual teacher excellence can only become collective tradition when the contexts in which teachers practice and learn are able to support, sustain, and expect culturally competent practice. Culturally responsive systems require the development of individual and collective discourse and practice focused on exploring how cultural perspectives,…

Reform and accountability are imperative for programmatic changes in general and special education. Understandably, any form of reform matters to students, parents, and other educational stakeholders. However, the question is not whether special education is a necessity; the questions continue to be, How "special" is special education for African…