Fairbanks School Board Committee Monitors Special Ed Placement

In Fairbanks, Alaska, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District has an advisory Board Ethnic Committee established by the school board to monitor concerns such as achievement gaps and disproportionate placement of culturally and linguistically diverse students in special education. The committee reviews data and visits school principals to discuss policies and programs designed to address concerns. They also work to encourage parent and community involvement in the schools. The findings and recommendations of the Board Ethnic Committee are submitted to the Board of Education and the school administration.

Over the decade since the Board Ethnic Committee was formed, the number of serious, race-based complaints have been dramatically reduced and an atmosphere of openness in the school district has been observed.

For more information about the work of the committee, contact Elizabeth Schaffhauser, EEO Director, email: eschaffhauser@northstar.k12.ak.us, or phone: (907) 452-2000 x 466.

Excerpted from  Truth in Labeling: Disproportionality in Special Education. Source: Mary Beth Klotz, NASP.

More Case Studies Addressing Disproportionality:

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• Baltimore City Schools Reduce Suspension Rates
• A Purposeful Plan To Tackle Disproportionality (Rapides Parish, LA)