The Alarming Trend of Informal Removals in Education for Students with Disabilities
Informal Removals of Students with Disabilities: A Threat to Equal Education
Informal removals of students with disabilities in education is a widespread problem that violates their civil rights and negatively impacts their education and future success. It's crucial for schools, educators, and the government to take immediate action and ensure equal educational opportunities for all students.
Informal Removals of Students with Disabilities: A Threat to Equal Education
February 9, 2023 - Education is a crucial aspect of any individual's life as it lays the foundation for their future success. However, many students with disabilities are still facing discrimination and are being removed from school through informal practices known as informal removals. These removals can take the form of repeated dismissals in the middle of the day, shortening of students' education to a few hours a week, or even “transfers to nowhere,” where students are involuntarily sent to non-existent programs.
The issue of informal removals is a widespread and pernicious problem that affects some of the nation’s most vulnerable children. These practices violate federal civil rights protections for individuals with disabilities and leave students academically stifled and socially marginalized. Their families, who are often demoralized and desperate, also suffer from this injustice.
According to a report by the National Disability Rights Network, informal removals are happening hundreds and possibly thousands of times per year. Schools are not required to report these removals in the same manner as formal suspensions and expulsions, which makes it difficult to track and measure their impact.
The situation is further exacerbated by the lack of awareness among schools about the infringement of students’ civil rights through such practices. However, the Education Department warned schools last year that informal removals, including shortened school days, could violate federal civil rights laws. The Justice Department also reached a settlement with Lewiston Public Schools in Maine after finding that the district had violated the civil rights of students with disabilities.
It's important to note that the problem of informal removals reflects the delicate balance that schools must strike between discipline and education for disabled students. While some children with disabilities might benefit from a different class schedule, many are removed from school as a solution to problems. Until a method of measuring sincerity is developed, it is difficult to determine the percentage of removals that are for the benefit of the student, the safety of the school, or simply maintaining the status quo.
Informal removals are a critical issue that requires immediate attention from the education system. These practices not only harm students with disabilities, but also their families and the society as a whole. It is the responsibility of schools, educators, and the government to ensure that all students, regardless of their abilities, receive equal educational opportunities and are protected by federal civil rights laws.