        
Are
you a faculty member or graduate student in a minority institution?
Are you interested in the University of South Florida's Doctoral
Program for Ethnic Minorities in Urban Education?
Request
an application
|
|
 
|
Research
Associates
Dr.
Dorothy Curry
Associate Professor
Education Division
Pilander
Smith College
back
to LASER Programs
|
A
Pilot Study of Outcomes When African American Children
are Tested Using Standardized Language Based IQ Tests
and Standardized Non-language IQ Test
This
pilot research study involves administering non-verbal
intelligence tests to 210 African-American children who
are in Special Education, categorized as Mentally Retarded,
and needing minimal levels of supports in urban school
systems. A significant number of African American children
in urban areas do not communicate via Standard English;
thereby, impeding their academic achievement. They speak
Black Dialect/Ebonics, a language which differs in phonics,
structure, and often in lexicon. However, in formal educational
settings, they are engulfed in written, and spoken Standard
English which they are expected to understand and use.
If they do not comply, they are often referred to be
tested for Special Education. Standardized Intelligence
tests are administered in Standard English. As speakers
of a different language, many do not do well, and are
consequently placed in Special Education. The premise
is that a significant number of these children are not
retarded, but are deficient in Standard English. Children
in this study will not be given tests of adaptation because
of the ongoing controversy about measurement of adaptation. |
|
|
