Westat to Lead Center Addressing Inequities in Special Education

The new Data Center for Addressing Significant Disproportionality (DCASD), to be led by Westat in a 5-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Education, will provide technical assistance to help states improve data collection, reporting, and analysis related to racial/ethnic disparities in the identification, placement, and discipline of students in special education.

The new center will work with existing federal resources by accelerating outreach and building capacity for states to identify root causes of significant disproportionality. DCASD’s technical assistance will enable states to better support districts in improving policies and practices, with the goal of ensuring high-quality, individualized education for all children regardless of race, ethnicity, or background. The center will play a key role in reinforcing continued efforts toward greater equity in education.