The Wake County Public School System will set aside 15% of its special education grant funding and contract with more outside analysts in an effort to decrease its disproportionate identification of Black boys as "emotionally disturbed" and disproportionate long-term suspensions of Black boys with disabilities.

"Emotional disturbance" is a federal category of special education identification that refers to children with mental health issues that are holding them back from reaching their academic potential.

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The district is also providing professional development to principals and other educators to make sure children are assessed for special education and, if they qualify, set up with services within 90 days, a standard the district is meeting just over half of the

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