Discipline and Special Education

I saw this article, explaining how special education students represent only 12% of the school population but are overrepresented for office referrals. For example, special education students represent 75% of students physically restrained in schools. Yes, it seems inappropriate on a surface level for students in special education to be more likely to have negative interactions with administrators, like suspensions and referrals to law enforcement. Yet, at the same time, it does kind of make sense. I have had students yell, hit, bit, kick, and run off campus - all of these incidents require incident reports and administrative involvement. Students who have struggled in the education system (either due to a learning disability, emotional disability, etc.) often act out and that is understandable. While it is important to try and provide positive reinforcement, sometimes certain actions require punitive responses.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2014/03/report_students_with_...