ERIC Number: EJ987213
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Dec
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-189X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Are Minority Children Disproportionately Represented in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education?
Morgan, Paul L.; Farkas, George; Hillemeier, Marianne M.; Maczuga, Steve
Educational Researcher, v41 n9 p339-351 Dec 2012
We investigated whether and to what extent children who are racial-ethnic minorities are disproportionately represented in early intervention and/or early childhood special education (EI/ECSE). We did so by analyzing a large sample of 48-month-olds (N = 7,950) participating in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), a nationally representative data set of children born in the United States in 2001. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicate that boys (odds ratio [OR] = 1.66), children born at very low birth weight (OR = 3.98) or with congenital anomalies (OR = 2.17), and children engaging in externalizing problem behaviors (OR = 1.10) are more likely to be represented in EI/ECSE. Children from low-socioeconomic-status households (OR = 0.48), those displaying greater numeracy or receptive language knowledge (ORs = 0.96 and 0.76, respectively), and children being raised in households where a language other than English is primarily spoken (OR = 0.39) are less likely to be represented in EI/ECSE. Statistical control for these and an extensive set of additional factors related to cognitive and behavioral functioning indicated that 48-month-old children who are Black (OR = 0.24) or Asian (OR = 0.32) are disproportionately underrepresented in EI/ECSE in the United States. (Contains 3 tables, 1 figure and 2 notes.)
Descriptors: Special Education, Minority Group Children, Family (Sociological Unit), Receptive Language, Early Intervention, Body Weight, Preschool Children, Longitudinal Studies, Multiple Regression Analysis, Disproportionate Representation, Early Childhood Education, At Risk Students, Educational Policy, Measures (Individuals), Demography, Socioeconomic Status, Numeracy, Gender Differences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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