Special Education Resolution

Approved April 26, 2005

Whereas data produced the State of Maryland in response to No Child Left Behind reveals that fewer than 1 in 10 African American and Hispanic students with disabilities passed all the High School Assessments in the 2003-04 academic year; and

Whereas the same data reveals that white students with disabilities performed significantly better on the same High School Assessments in the 2003-04 academic year; and

Whereas these data confirm that there is a tremendous gap in achievement between African American and Hispanic students and white students within special education despite the fact that each of these students, regardless of race, has an individualized education plan; be it therefore

RESOLVED that MCCPTA urges MCPS to investigate the achievement gap among children of different races within the special education community for the express purpose of designing and immediately implementing corrective action; and be it further

RESOLVED that MCCPTA urges MCPS to provide the resources necessary to meaningfully address this achievement gap so that all students, irrespective of race, may have the opportunity to succeed.