This guide for administrators addresses the problem of the frequent over-identification of African American students as disabled resulting in over-representation of this population in special education programs. The guide focuses on preventive strategies--specifically, how administrators may use the prereferral intervention process, school climate, family involvement, and professional development to prevent and/or help reduce the over-representation of African American students in special education. The guide first presents an overview of over-representation, including U.S. Department of Education data showing the extent and seriousness of the problem. It then considers how the law supports administrators in addressing over-representation of African American students in special education. Next, the guide examines how experienced practitioners and researchers suggest administrators might intervene to prevent and eliminate the over-representation of African American students in their districts through a prereferral intervention process, attention to school climate, family involvement, and professional development. Resources on over-representation are also listed. (Contains 47 references.) (DB)