Equity in Special Education: Leveraging Critical Quantitative Methods for Research, Practice, and Policy

Critical Quantitative Methods (CQM) and QuantCrit are emerging theoretical and methodological frameworks that identify and interrogate disparities in various disciplines, including education. However, little is known about how these methodologies are defined, justified, and applied within special education, particularly to bridge inequities impacting multiply marginalized and underrepresented (MMU) students with disabilities and community stakeholders. We conducted a scoping review of studies that integrate principles of CQM or QuantCrit to map the breadth of research within special education and related fields and understand how CQM is applied in research. We identified 17 full-text studies within the United States, encompassing articles and dissertations, that focused on MMU students with disabilities and their stakeholders. We offer a blueprint for researchers and further implications for practitioners and policymakers to advance CQM within special education.