The National Research Center on Learning Disabilities produced this guide to assist state education agencies in working through the many issues associated with developing specific learning disability (SLD) identification policies and procedures. An introductory section describes current understanding of the issues surrounding SLD identification, explains current issues that affect policy implementation, and outlines an approach toward assisting SEAs to improve it. The guide then divides into seven sections with corresponding activities. Section I, "Determine the Current Status in Your State and Prepare for Change," helps SEAs understand some of the issues and challenges their organizations currently face in the identification of students with SLD. It provides a review of the changes in statutory language that will have the most effect on SLD determination. Section II, "Ensure Policy Coherence across Legislation," addresses how IDEA 2004 policy changes and other federal, state, and district initiatives can work together to help an organization stay focused on its mission. Section III, "Address Challenges with SLD Determination in Your State," describes the issues that make accurate SLD determination difficult. Section IV, "Address Who Is the Student with SLD," considers how low and underachievement differs from SLD. Section V, "Design Your Plan," moves through the steps of examining and specifying a framework of components, procedures, and criteria for SLD determination. Section VI, "Implement Your Plan," moves through the steps of how to implement an SLD determination model by outlining the steps in the process for SLD determination. Finally, Section VII, "Evaluate Your Plan," uses existing tools as well as formative and summative evaluation methods to assess how one's SLD determination model is achieving its goals. [This document was produced by the National Research Center on Learning Disabilities.]