In 1977 and 1978, the Black Panther published articles calling out the over-representation of Black children in special education classes because of the cultural bias in IQ testing. The articles put particular focus on the class-action laws Larry P. v. Riles which was brought by a group of Black Parents who sued on behalf of their children who were mislabeled as "mentally retarded" and segregated into special education classrooms. 

University of Wisconsin - Madison

The Oakland Community School did use test to assess students struggling with reading, but the Oakland Community School did not use standardized testing with the exception of using it to prepare students for transitioning to public schools for middle school. The Oakland Community School did not use IQ testing. During this time period IQ testing was widely used by public schools to lump disabled children, nondisabled Black children, and children with English as a second language into overcrowded and underfunded special education classrooms. 

Oakland Community School's View on Standardized and IQ testing

Schalk, Sami. Black Disability Politics, New York, USA: Duke University Press, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781478027003

Learn Before

Related