The k12dive.com website has just produced a two-part series on a recent trend concerning children served by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): The nearly 100% increase in the number of school districts identified as “significantly disproportionate.”

In the past few years, “more districts across the country have likewise been identified with special education programs that are over- or underrepresented by race,” the news site writes, “but increasingly, the federal government, states and localities are trying to understand the phenomenon, and make fixes.”

“Significantly disproportionate” describes the disproportionate number of students of color (with the exception of Asian students) being identified for special education, placed in more restrictive educational settings and disciplined at “markedly higher rates” than their peers, according to The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD).

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Its specifics are complex and range from issues concerning systemic racism to conflicting data.

Let K12dive.com explain the ins and outs. Part One of its series looks at why racial disparities are increasing, and Part Two focuses on solutions.