Blacks are 3.6 times more likely than whites to be classified as being mentally retarded

Thursday, January 08, 203 • BY KATHY HENNESSY • Associated Press

A national education report released yesterday found that African-American students in New Jersey are 3.6 times more likely to be classified as mentally retarded than white students. That rate is higher than any other state.

But while there is great disparity between black and white students being classified, the state had the lowest overall percentage in the nation of students who were designated mentally retarded -- 3.2 percent compared with the national average of 9.9 percent.

The findings come from the "Quality Counts" report published each year by Education Week, a national education newspaper. The numbers are for the 2002-03 school year.

The study examined how the 50 states are complying with the federal law requiring all students, including those with disabilities, to perform at the "proficient level" on state tests.

While the state has made some progress in improving special education, the report raised concerns among educators and civil-rights leaders who worry that students may not be getting resources they need.

"It's a really complex thing that is linked to poverty more than anything else," said William Behre, chairman of the Special Education, Language and Literacy department at the College of New Jersey. "School systems historically have treated black kids poorly, particularly black males."

The report relies on federal and state education data, but does not break down the information for specific school districts or factors that may have led to classifications, which may vary from state to state.

New Jersey uses strict guidelines based on intelligence tests and behavioral standards in the classification process, which explains the small percentage of students classified as mentally retarded. But the racial disparity is less easily explained.

Nationally, African-American students are 2.3 times more likely to be classified as mentally retarded than whites. Hispanic students in New Jersey are 2.3 times as likely to be classified than whites.

The state has an ongoing project looking into the reasons for the disparity.

"Our issue is to work with districts that have data that shows this and to help them identify why this is happening," said Barbara Gantwerk, who oversees special education programs for the state.

Activists like Walter Fields, the publisher of thenorthstarnetwork.com, a black issues Web site, said it is not clear if racism, environmental factors or other problems are responsible for the classification disparity.

"I think the report on its face value is very troubling," said Fields, a former adviser to Gov. James Florio.

Previous studies have shown links between mental retardation in poverty-stricken areas where families do not have access to health care or where children have been exposed to lead paint. There have also been gaps in the educational programs or lack of early childhood educational intervention.

The Education Week study found New Jersey has made some progress, such as having more than 95 percent of special-education students taking standardized tests given to students in fourth, eighth and 11th grades.

New Jersey is also one of seven states that require individualized education plans for students with disabilities. The Garden State also had 50 percent of students with disabilities graduate from high school in 2002, which is significantly higher than the national average of 32 percent.