ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now referred to as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the consequences of this law that, arguably, maintain the overrepresentation of racially and ethnically diverse students with disabilities. First, the chapter examines the spirit and intent of IDEA. Presented second is a discussion of the overrepresentation of racially and ethnically diverse students with disabilities in special education categories, placement, and exclusionary discipline practices and how teacher preparation programs maintain such inequities. Last, the chapter discusses recommendations for policy, teacher licensure, and teacher preparation programs.
