Wisconsin directs federal IDEA funds toward racism, equity workshops

[Geee]

The Center Square

A project housed under the Wisconsin Department of Education is using federal special education funds to pay speakers to provide instruction to teachers on race, equity and Black queer feminist methodology. 

Wisconsin’s Educational Equity Network’s virtual events feature presentations from authors and activists, including notable and controversial writers such as Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo, about racism, inequity and marginalized gender or sexual identities. 

The state’s Educational Equity Leadership Institutes are funded through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, passed in 1990. 

The purpose of the federal education law, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s website, is “to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.”

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction supports the Educational Equity Network. It is also called “The Disproportionality Technical Assistance Network.”

The DPI’s website says the network “works with preK-12 educators, schools, districts, and other community partners to reduce racial disproportionally in special education through a multi-tiered system of free and low-cost compliance activities and improvement supports.”

“The Educational Equity Network works with PreK-12 educators, schools, districts and other community partners to address racial disparities using approaches that uplift equity, systemic change, evaluative mindsets, inclusivity, and cultural responsiveness in order to reduce racial disproportionality in special education,” the Network’s own website reads. :snip:

[SDwaters]

2 hours ago, Geee said:

“to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.”

Because recognizing their "White Privilege" and/or being able to recognize all 352 "genders" is the most important stuff we can teach "special needs" children.

[Geee]

1 hour ago, SDwaters said:

Because recognizing their "White Privilege" and/or being able to recognize all 352 "genders" is the most important stuff we can teach "special needs" children.