Date of Award
1-1-2015
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Organizational Unit
Morgridge College of Education, Teaching and Learning Sciences, Child, Family, and School Psychology
First Advisor
Gloria Miller, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Cynthia Hazel
Third Advisor
Kathy Green
Keywords
Disproportionality, English language learners, Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Response to intervention
Abstract
Disproportionality in special education has been an ongoing discussion and cause for concern at the district, state, and federal levels for the past 45 years. Due to legislative changes and a shifting attitude in public education away from a "wait to fail" service delivery model, may states now require the use of Response to Intervention (RTI), or a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) for students who do not meet grade level academic standards or behavioral expectations. This study examined the presence of disproportionality among race/ethnicity, gender, and ELL status for students who received targeted and intensive interventions across two consecutive school years. Descriptive statistics, tests of proportion, and regression analyses were conducted to measure disproportionality within RTI and examine predictors of student outcome at the end of each year. Results indicated that for both school years Other/Multi-racial students were under-represented and in the second year, White/Caucasian students were overrepresented. For both school years, males were significantly overrepresented, females were underrepresented, and English Language Learners were proportionately represented. Hispanic/Latino(a) students who received RTI interventions were about four times more likely to be placed into special education in the first school year than White/Caucasian students and about half as likely to continue RTI interventions for that same year. Gender was a significant predictor in the second school year, with females being about half as likely to be placed in special education than males. Results from this study emphasize the need for providing strong leadership, professional development, and resources to support best practices in RTI implementation for all schools. Implications for future research, limitations to the study, and reflections on current educational practices are also discussed.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Brittney M Bixby
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
en
File Size
116 p.
Recommended Citation
Bixby, Brittney M., "An Examination of Disproportionality in One School District Using a Response to Intervention Model" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1078.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1078
Copyright date
2015
Discipline
Educational Psychology