DiveIn: Diving into Special Education's Most Complex and Pressing Debates

Podcast by Federico R. Waitoller

DiveIn: Diving into Special Education's Most Complex and Pressing Debates

Join Dr. Federico Waitoller for DiveIn, the podcast that explores the most complex and pressing debates in Special Education. Sponsored by the Division of Research of the Council for Exceptional Children, this series tackles critical and timely topics, including current policy debates, instructional design, disciplinary disparities, school choice, workforce diversity, and funding disparities. DiveIn does not shy away from tough conversations. Through thought-provoking discussions with experts and changemakers, DiveIn will challenge your current perspectives and deepen your understanding, offering actionable insights to drive equity in special education teaching, research, and policy. Tune in and be part of the movement to transform special education through an equity-driven lens. Are you ready? Let's DiveIn!

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Latest episodes

30 April 2026

Educational Segregation in Spain (Divein Miniserie). Part 2: Gathering Signatures and Finding Support

In this second episode of our DiveIn miniseries on school segregation in Spain, the story moves from idea to action.

After introducing the grassroots initiative in the Basque Country, we now follow the organizers as they take a bold step: bringing school segregation to the political stage. What does it take to turn concern into change? In this episode, you’ll hear how activists mobilized parents, school leaders, and policymakers to gather thousands of signatures and spark a national conversation.

But advocacy alone isn’t enough—data becomes their most powerful tool. Through compelling visualizations and creative use of available data, the team exposes stark inequalities between public schools and publicly funded private schools (concertadas). The patterns are hard to ignore: differences in who attends which schools reveal deep divides shaped by class, migration, and history.

Along the way, we zoom out to understand how Spain compares globally—and why the Basque Country presents a unique and complex case. From language politics to the legacy of ikastolas, schools born as resistance under dictatorship but now entangled in new forms of inequality, this episode uncovers the contradictions at the heart of the system.

And just when momentum builds, tensions emerge. Not everyone agrees on the problem—or the solution.

Will the movement gain enough support to reach parliament?

And what happens when equity efforts collide with history, identity, and politics?

🎙️ Tune in to hear how a grassroots campaign grows into a political force—and why the fight against school segregation is far more complicated than it seems.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Report Mentioned in the Story: Educación y segregación escolar en Euskadi

** This miniseries was originally produced for the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center

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42:36

24 April 2026

Educational Segregation in Spain (Divein Miniserie). Part 1: A Legislative Initiative Begins

In this episode, we bring to you a new miniseries. Host Federico Waitoller takes listeners on a journey to the Basque Country in Spain, where an initiative aimed at combating school segregation has been set into motion. The miniseries delves into the legislative efforts undertaken by local activists Sabin and Gonzalo to bring ethnic and class segregation into the public debate. Experts discuss the historical context of Spain's dual education system, born out of the Franco regime, and how public and publicly funded private schools coexist. This episode sets the stage for understanding a complex issue with modern implications.

Episode Transcript

** This miniseries was originally produced for the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center

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30:41

08 March 2026

The Disproportionality Series Part 3: A Conversation with Donna Ford

In this podcast episode, Federico Waitoller interviews Dr. Donna Ford, a distinguished professor in gifted and talented education, to discuss the underrepresentation of Black and Latinx students in these programs. Dr. Ford highlights the pervasive issue of disproportionality, drawing attention to systemic biases ingrained in policies and educational practices. The conversation delves into the root causes and explores the differences in state policies that contribute to the disparities. Dr. Ford emphasizes the need for greater accountability and the importance of addressing both implicit and explicit biases to achieve equity in educational opportunities.

Transcript of Episode

This is the show Donna and I could not remember the name. Check this great clip ! https://share.google/r8i6PasKa5ByauV56

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58:10

03 February 2026

The Disproportionality Series Part 2: A Conversation with Rachel Fish

In the 10th episode of Dive In’s third season, host Federico Waitoller continues with the disproportionality series. In this show, he explores the complex issue of disproportionality in special education with sociologist Rachel Fish. Fish discusses her research on how racial and linguistic minorities are disproportionately represented, examining the roles of structural racism and social constructs in this disparity. The conversation highlights different perspectives and methodologies, including both qualitative and quantitative research, to better understand this multifaceted issue. By considering factors like educational inequity and subjective diagnoses, the episode offers a nuanced take on how schools contribute to and perpetuate inequalities in special education settings.

Episode Transcript

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56:23

08 January 2026

The Disproportionality Series Part 1: A Conversation with Paul Morgan

In this episode of Dive In, Federico Waitoller starts a new series delving into the controversial issue of disproportionality in special education. Joining him is Paul Morgan, a noted figure renowned for challenging conventional beliefs about minority representation. Morgan discusses the difference between descriptive evidence and disparities, emphasizing the importance of examining similarly situated children to uncover potential biases. He responds to critiques to his work and argues that the sweeping claims of systemic bias lack substantial empirical support. This conversation sets the stage for a thought-provoking series aiming to synthesize diverse perspectives on disproportionality.

Engage with me and others in our Discord channel https://discord.gg/GCwtRwrE

Check our related episode with Catherine Voulgarides https://divein.alitu.com/episode/5de361e4-ca33-4934-b217-2226fc08d5dc

Episode Transcript

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01:26:18

18 December 2025

Two Camps, One Question: How Should We Understand Interventions in Special Education?

In this episode of DiveIn, host Federico Waitoller invites Professor Aydin Bal to discuss the concept of interventions within special education. They explore the differing perspectives of traditionalists and critical approaches, examining how each group's approach impacts educational practices. The episode offers insights into his culturally responsive framework for interventions, emphasizing the importance of dynamic and collaborative approaches that center on the needs and knowledge of local community members.

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55:03