The impact of neoliberal school choice reforms on students with disabilities: perspectives from New York City

Abstract

This disability studies in education informed study unpacks effects of neoliberal reforms on students with disabilities in New York City schools. These reforms proliferated small themed schools, dismantled many large schools, and required students to apply to high school. This multi-site case study researched two high schools, one large and one small, with data from interviews and document review. Findings reveal how reforms forced large schools to accept many marginalized students with disabilities, while small schools employed tactics to avoid accepting many students with disabilities seen as having intensive needs. Finally, contextual analysis reveals how larger city politics perpetuated segregative ideologies.

Keywords:

• school reform
• educational policy
• neoliberalism
• disability studies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.