Uncovering Inequities in Special Education: A Conversation with Dr. Paul Morgan

17/09/2025 37 min
Uncovering Inequities in Special Education: A Conversation with Dr. Paul Morgan

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Episode Synopsis

Dr. Paul Morgan is a researcher investigating disparities in disability identification and treatment during childhood. His research has found that students of color are likely to be under-identified for special education services despite a prevailing narrative that over-identification is always the issue. Dr. Morgan discusses the methodology of his studies, the importance of investigating a fuller set of explanatory factors for reading difficulties, and why strong claims about special education being a wholly negative "dumping ground" are not supported by the evidence. Dr. Morgan also discusses why there has been resistance to accepting the data, and shares findings from his latest study on the prevalence of reading difficulties.