Discipline disparities are driven by classroom teachers' decisions to refer a student for disciplinary action "and" by school administrators' decisions in response to those referrals (Amos, 2021). In this qualitative study, the researcher will explore educators' perceptions on the disparity in discipline referrals and evaluate…

Racial disparities are consistently present in the office discipline referral data for schools. Beginning in primary grades, African-American students are frequently punished more severely and more often than their peers who display similar behavior. Nationally, during the 2017-1018 school year, over two million K-12 public school students were…

This quantitative research study will explore how educators perceive culturally responsive School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports' (SWPBIS) impact on racial disparities in school discipline. At the time of this study, the literature on the effectiveness of culturally responsive SWPBIS in terms of racial disparity was mixed.…

Background: Campus behavioral intervention teams (BITs) provide early identification of students and/or situations that may be a risk to the community, as well as determine and implement intervention plans for a safe resolution. Methods: An evaluation of 529 faculty and staff was conducted at a large urban, southeastern research university to…

Inclusive experiences for all children are foundational to New Zealand early childhood education, yet teacher beliefs and practices related to identification and referral processes may be delaying access to important early intervention support for children with disabilities. To better understand teachers' perspectives, past and present, this…

This dissertation investigates the disproportionality of students of color enrolled in special education in the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), with a focus on novice teachers' perceptions and experiences. By investigating the variables contributing to this disparity and obtaining views from early career educators, the research has…

The number of special education referrals continues to increase for African American students, which contributes to a disproportionate amount of African American students within the special education system. Teachers play a role in referring African American students to special education in urban schools. Therefore, this qualitative…

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review of the literature is to investigate if a relationship exists between the perceptions and misconceptions held by educators regarding ELL students and the educators' decisions to refer these students for ESE services. Methods: After the initial reading of the 26 articles, they were first organized…

Students faced many challenges during the onset of COVID-19 across the country, including isolation in their learning from not being able to be in the classroom with their peers. Although we are four years' post- pandemic, a survey found more than 80% of public schools reported "stunted behavioral and socioemotional development" in their…

This qualitative narrative study explored the perceptions of public-school general education teachers on the training they received for referring students to special education. Two key aspects of this were investigated: (1) navigating the special education referral process, and (2) using individualized interventions that are effective with African…

The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore middle school and/or high school teachers' experience and decision-making processes regarding writing disciplinary referrals for African American students demonstrating disruptive behavior in the classroom. "How do teachers describe their experiences and decision-making processes in…

There is an overrepresentation of African American students in special education classes; placing African Americans disproportionately in special education classes lowers their self-esteem and compromises their academic performance. This study aimed to increase understanding of the meaning-making processes elementary school general education…

Researchers utilized a survey design to explore perceptions of the school-based occupational therapy (OT) role from both OTs and teachers. Respondents answered questions pertaining to the value of OT input in a variety of school-based occupations. The results indicate continued discrepancies in the understanding and utilization of OT services in…

Although intervening early can improve child and family outcomes when a child has a developmental disability, most children with developmental delays are not identified prior to school entry. Childcare professionals can play a key role in identifying delays early. The developmental monitoring attitudes, knowledge, and practice of childcare…

Despite various efforts to reduce disparities in discipline referrals among African American males in schools, the gap continues to persist. African American males are disciplined at a higher rate than any other demographic in the United States. What might be the root cause? Could the perceptions of adults in the classroom be a major contributing…