Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Dept. of Education’s Action to Address Disparities in Special Education

WASHINGTON – Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s recently proposed rule on disproportionality in special education:

“This proposed rule is a step forward that should help to alleviate some of the widespread and longstanding disparities in how students of color are identified for and placed in special education, and how students of color with disabilities are disciplined.

The Leadership Conference and our members, including those representing people with disabilities and communities of color, look forward to working with the Department of Education, states, and districts to ensure that the rights and interests of all children are protected. We applaud the Department’s attention to this issue and its efforts to address the exclusionary discipline and disparate treatment that harms students and violates their civil and human rights.”

Nancy Zirkin is the executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.