Disproportionate Representation in Special Education

State Performance Plan Indicator 9

SPPI 9: Measurement

State Performance Plan Indicator (SPPI) 9 measures the percent of districts with disproportionate
representation of racial and ethnic groups in special education and related services that is a result
of inappropriate identification.

SPPI 9: Calculation

SPPI 9 Calculation and Example (PDF)

Local Education Agency Disproportionate Representation

The State defines that a local education agency (LEA) exceeding the State established threshold of 2.5, in a single data year, would be identified as having disproportionate representation of racial and ethnic groups for measurement in SPPI 9. The State applies a risk ratio methodology in calculating an LEA risk for disproportionate representation. LEAs meeting the minimum size requirements (MSR) for analysis must have at least thirty (30) students in a particular group denominator, and ten (10) students with disabilities served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in a particular group numerator to be evaluated. The comparison group rate is comprised of students with disabilities served under IDEA in all other racial or ethnic groups (numerator) divided by the total number of students with disabilities served under IDEA in all other racial or ethnic groups within an LEA (denominator), when calculating the risk ratio. An alternate risk ratio is applied when the particular target group meets MSR, but the comparison group in the LEA does not meet the MSR requirements. The calculation is performed by dividing the risk of a particular outcome for children with disabilities in one racial or ethnic group within an LEA by the risk of that outcome for children with disabilities in all other racial or ethnic groups in the State. No risk ratio or alternate risk ratio is calculated in a particular category for an LEA if the particular racial or ethnic group being analyzed does not meet the minimum cell size (10) or minimum n-size (30).