THE CONFLUENCE OF LANGUAGE AND LEARNING DISORDERS AND THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE AMONG MINORITY STUDENTS OF COLOR: A CRITICAL RACE THEORY

"41 The limited availability of SLPs available to address the language and learning needs of minority students has resulted in an overload of minority students referred to special education for minimal impairments or disturbances, whom otherwise should receive intervention within the general education classroom. [...]many children run the risk of not receiving language and learning treatment intervention.42 As a result, minority students with untreated language and learning needs are disproportionately disciplined, which can result in suspension or expulsion from school.43 Such absences ultimately result in denied access to their right to an equal, fair, and free education. "78 When this occurs, African American students are more likely to be referred to special education, suspended, or expelled from school. [...]resulting in disciplinary decisions provided by educators and school officials whose justifications are subjective and not always culturally and pedagogically competent.79 In these instances, the justification for the disciplinary action is usually a result of subjective offenses (e.g., disrespect), as compared to white students, who are likely to be suspended for objective reasons (e.g., smoking).80 In turn, these subjective offenses eventually result in the perpetual referral of African American children with language and learning disorders to special education, detention centers, and, ultimately, into the criminal justice system. [...]the experience of African American students' inclusion in special education can be considered an Adverse Childhood Experience ("ACE").90 The recognition of a language and learning disorder experienced by minorities as an AcE explains the increase in minorities with disabilities within U.S. criminaljustice system.91 Many of these students are have a three-strike barrier to success; being African American, experiencing a language and learning disorder, and attending a low-SES minority Title I school with limited resources.92 African American students experience AcEs vastly different from their peers of other races.93 An ACE is a conglomerate of adverse experiences an individual can experience during childhood that affects their quality of life.94 When a student has experienced significant ACEs, it can affect academic performance, memory, and language development.95 Children who "have experienced three or more ACEs" are six times more likely to have behavioral problems and four times more likely to experience academi