Examines salient issues concerning African-American students' overrepresentation in special education and identifies critical teacher, student, and program variables abetting this process. Few teachers are equipped to deal with different cultures, languages, lifestyles, and values, although white, middle-class kids from two-parent families are…

Reviews the historical background of special education as a major factor in the placement of many children with disabilities, and examines data that reveal a disproportionately large number of students in these programs are children of color. Suggestions are offered to help lead to a more equitable placement of all children in appropriate…