Significant Disproportionality

The standard methodology for significant disproportionality utilizes a risk ratio analysis across seven racial and ethnic groups to determine if and where disparities exist. The risk ratio analysis compares the likelihood of a particular outcome for a racial/ethnic group with the likelihood of the same outcome for all other racial/ethnic groups in the LEA. Pennsylvania is using a risk ratio threshold of 3.0 for Identification and Placement categories and a risk ratio threshold of 2.5 for Discipline categories. An LEA that has data exceeding a threshold level for three consecutive years in any of the 14 analysis categories will be identified as displaying significant disproportionality. An LEA may be excluded if it exceeds the threshold for three consecutive years but displays reasonable progress from year to year.