ERIC Number: EJ1473512
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-May
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4669
EISSN: EISSN-1538-4764
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Teachers' Special Education Referrals for Younger Children Vary by School Type
Tina L. Fletcher1; Phil H. Kim2; Michael A. Gottfried2; Vi-Nhuan Le3
Journal of Special Education, v59 n1 p38-47 2025
The prevalence of disability diagnoses among young children has risen significantly over recent decades. This growth has prompted inquiries into the identification processes, notably focusing on teachers who are the primary sources of referrals. While some studies have examined child age as a relevant predictor of disability referral, minimal attention has been paid to relative age--namely, if children are younger than their classmates. In this study, we examine whether teachers in the U.S. state of Arkansas refer children differently based on relative classroom age. We do so for traditional public schools versus magnet schools, as each type has been shown to serve different student populations. Results show no significant association between classroom age composition and referral rates in either school type. However, in traditional public schools, a higher proportion of younger children in classrooms correlated with a higher proportion of referrals for younger children, whereas magnet schools showed no such trend. Policy implications are discussed.
Descriptors: Students with Disabilities, Institutional Characteristics, Traditional Schools, Public Schools, Magnet Schools, Young Children, Referral, Special Education, Age Differences, Kindergarten, Student Characteristics
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Kindergarten; Primary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Arkansas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Walton Family Foundation, Bentonville, AR, USA; 2University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA; 3NORC at The University of Chicago, IL, USA