Gender and Race Intersectional Disproportionality-Tool
(GRID-T)
Welcome
Important Definitions
Risk Ratio: A single number summary that describes the probability that a subgroup is placed in special education compared to the probability that the rest of the group is in special education (Cruz & Rodl, 2018).
Outcome: Placement of students in special education.
Underrepresentation: the target group is less likely to be placed in special education.
Overrepresentation: the target group is more likely to be placed in special education.
How to Use GRID-T
Select Race, Gender, and Disability Category or Total Special Education population.
A histogram will appear that represents the frequency of each Risk Ratio across the United States. This gives a national perspective as to whether this subgroup is either overrepresented, underrepresented, or proportionate.
Examine the descriptive statistics table to see n (how many schools are involved in the calculation), IQR (interquartile ranges), Mean (average Risk Ratio for that subgroup intersection), and Mode (most common Risk Ratio for that subgroup intersection).
Type your school’s name into the search box to see if the data is present for that subgroup.
If the data is present and there are more than three students represented in that subgroup, a color-coded line will appear with your school's Risk Ratio. The color signifies how underrepresented, overrepresented, or proportionate your school's subgroup is in the selected dis/ability category or Total special Education population.
Read the What Now? section to look through resources that will help you to address your local area's patterns of disproportionality.
Interpretation Resources
Risk Ratio
Interpretation
<1
The outcome is less likely for the target group vs. the comparison group
1
The outcome is the same for the target group vs. the comparison group
>1
The outcome is the more likely for the target group vs. the comparison group
Explore possible interventions for your patterns of disproportionality. Please note that your findings for different subgroups might require different actions.
Fergus, E. (2016). Solving Disproportionality and Achieving Equity: A Leader's Guide to Using Data to Change Hearts and Minds. Corwin Press.
Welcome to Gender and Race Intersectional Disproportionality-Tool
It is important for practitioners to use this data wisely to inform their schools intervention plans. A working knowledge of risk ratios and histograms is required for the use of this website. Please utilize the video and other attached resources below to familiarize yourself with these elements of statistics before accessing the data on these graphs.
References
Bollmer, J., Bethel, J., Garrison-Mogren, R., & Brauen, M. (2007). Using the Risk Ratio to Assess Racial/Ethnic Disproportionality in Special Education at the School-District Level. The Journal of Special Education, 41(3), 186–198.
Cruz, R. A., & Rodl, J. E. (2018). An Integrative Synthesis of Literature on Disproportionality in Special Education. The Journal of Special Education, 52(1), 50–63.