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DISPROPORTIONALITY REPORT

The Disproportionality Report examines the status of a particular racial/ethnic group of children receiving special education services based on their representation in the general school population. It also examines the status of a particular racial/ethnic group of children being identified in specific disability categories. Students in a particular racial/ethnic group who are represented at a higher percentage than other students in racial/ethnic groups when compared to their representation in the general school population are of major concern. Based on North Carolina's criteria for significant disproportionality, there are two disability categories where students of a particular racial/ethnic group are of major concern. Those disability categories are Educable Mental Disabilities (EMD) and Behavioral-Emotional Disabilities (BED). The SEA is charged with providing technical assistance and professional development to local education agencies (LEAs) that demonstrate disproportionality (≥ 1) based on the Risk Analysis formula. School systems identified as having significant disproportionality (≥ 3 based on Risk Analysis formula) will receive a Focused Record Review. The Risk Analysis formula is calculated by using Westat's Disproportionality Excel Spreadsheet Application. Westat collects and analyzes data for the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). OSEP requires States to examine disproportionality at the LEA-level. Data obtained from the Risk Analysis formula is used to analyze LEA-level disproportionality data. The Risk Analysis formula determines how likely a particular racial/ethnic group is at risk of being identified for Special Education or a specific disability category such as EMD or BED in LEAs across the State. Data are based on the North Carolina Statistical Profile (Pupils in Membership) and the December 1 Child Count.

ABSTRACT

During the 2002-03 through the 2003-04 school years, the Risk Analysis formula consisted of the Composition Index, Risk Index, and Risk Ratio. The "composition index" compares the proportion of students from a group (e.g., racial or linguistic) within a disability category or special education program with the proportion of the same group of students. (Donovan & Cross, 2002). The "risk index" is calculated by dividing the number of students from the target group (e.g., African American) placed in a disability category or program (e.g., MR) by the total number of students in that group enrolled in the school population. The "risk ratio" is the odds of being identified if an individual is in a particular ethnic/racial group when compared to "White Students." The data provides Regional Risk Analysis reports of how likely African-American students are at risk of being identified as EMD or BED in LEAs across North Carolina. The Regional Risk Analysis report also provides data on the percentage of students who received Free and Reduced Lunches in LEAs across North Carolina.

During the 2004-05 school year, the Risk Analysis formula continued to consist of the Composition Index, Risk Index, and Risk Ratio. However, the report expanded the information to enable LEAs to have more information. The "composition index" includes the December 1 Child Count Composition, NC Statistical Profile-Pupils in Membership Composition, and the Relative Difference in Composition. The Relative Difference in Composition is obtained by dividing the difference between the disability composition and the enrollment composition by the enrollment composition and then multiplying by 100 to convert the result to a percent. The "risk index" includes the Risk, Risk Ratio, and Weighted Risk Ratio. The "risk ratio" is the odds of being identified if an individual is in a particular ethnic group when compared to "All Other Students." If the risk ratio of African-American students is being employed, all other students refers to Native-American, Asian, Hispanic and White students. The Weighted Risk Ratio adjusts for district variability in the racial/ethnic composition of the comparison group and is used to compare LEAs. The weighted risk ratio uses LEA risk for the racial/ethnic group for the numerator and a weighted risk for all other students for the denominator. The weighted risk for all other students uses the LEA risks for each racial/ethnic group in the comparison group, weighted according to the racial/ethnic composition of the state.


RISK ANALYSIS

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2002 - 03 through 2003 - 04


2004 - 05 through 2005 - 06

 

 

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