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The presentation introduces a research-based guidance document and self-assessment rubric designed to help districts and schools identify the root causes of "success gaps" (for example, in test scores, suspension or graduation rates, or course credits) for some groups of students, thereby helping schools to improve and equalize results for all students.

In this webinar, which IDC staff presented for the University of Tennessee’s Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities, we first discuss the requirements in the IDEA related to disproportionality, describe methods for calculating disproportionality, and present data, both at the national level and for the state of Tennessee. The second part of the webinar introduces a research-based guidance document and self-assessment rubric designed to help schools and districts identify the root causes of "success gaps."

This presentation introduced the audience of local education agency personnel to new tools, the Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity: How to Address Success Gaps Rubric and the Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity: How to Address Success Gaps White Paper. The rubric and white paper were developed by a group of OSEP-funded technical assistance providers, with input from states and other experts. The Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity: How to Address Success Gaps tools provide a process for reducing the differences in school success among subgroups of students by providing a structure for districts or schools to examine their current practices and identify areas for improvement.

The required measurements for APR Indicators B3, B4, B5, B6, B9, and B10 (the assessment, discipline, LRE, and disproportionality indicators) are based on Section 618 data. This session focused on selected section 618 data submissions and how the data can be explored to provide more in-depth information for use in discussion with state’s APR stakeholders. Presenters demonstrated some practical methods for taking a deeper look at data in the IDEA EDFacts file submissions using readily available data analysis tools (Microsoft Excel).

To address the disparities experienced by minority students with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Education is proposing a new Equity in IDEA Rule. During this session, presenters used data examples to guide states through a series of questions regarding how the Notice of Proposed Rule Making might affect significant disproportionality calculations, analysis, and decision-making. Presenters also introduced IDC’s Success Gaps Toolbox, which can help states and local school districts in determining root causes of significant disproportionality.

Many schools and districts have been identified as low performing or disproportionate because of disparities between subgroups on a variety of success measures. Other schools and districts are proactively trying to address identified success gaps. Presenters from IDC demonstrated IDC's Success Gaps Toolkit that can help schools and districts 1) prepare all of their students for success in college and careers by addressing success gaps, 2) collect and use quantitative and qualitative data for the purpose of root-cause analysis of those success gaps, and 3) focus attention on those root causes for the benefit of children and students in the lowest performing subgroups.

This webinar focused on key components of the new significant disproportionality regulations presented in §20 U.S.C. 1418(d) and 34 CFR §§300.646 and 300.647. The regulations require states to determine whether significant disproportionality based on race/ethnicity is occurring with respect to the identification of children as children with disabilities, including identification as children with particular impairments; placement of children in particular educational settings; and incidence, duration, and type of disciplinary actions, including suspensions and expulsions. Timeline for state compliance is July 1, 2018, and states must make significant disproportionality determinations using new methodology during SY 2018-19. The webinar highlighted new OSEP Significant Disproportionality Resources and included resources that comprise IDC's Disproportionality and Equity Resource Collection. The webinar was part of IDC's Discipline Peer-to-Peer Exchange.