The new Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act (2004) offers local education agencies the choice of using a student's response to intervention (RTI) as a major component to determine eligibility for special education under the category of specific learning disabilities (SLD). Using a RTI model, it is not expected that different…

Using U.S. Department of Education data, the current study examined changes in the rates of special education eligibility classifications. This was done to determine if classification substitution might be an explanation for increases in the number of students being found eligible for special education using the Autism criteria. Results reveal…

This booklet presents a screening device to identify quickly those students who may qualify for special help but who have not been referred for testing, identification, and receiving of special education resources. The booklet notes that the original test consisted of 20 sentences, but that only one sentence gave students known to have severe…

Outlines briefly the historical development of the field of learning disabilities, describes its present status with a discussion of some of the major issues and controversies, and indicates some emerging trends and future directions. (Author/RK)

Six issues relating to assessment of gifted/learning disabled (GLD) students are discussed: (1) incidence; (2) cut-off IQ scores; (3) barriers to identification; (4) use of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Revised; (5) differentiation between GLD and underachieving gifted; (6) qualitative differences between GLD, gifted, and learning…

Following its administration to 215 students (117 classified as regular and 98 as learning disabled), the Junior-Senior High School Personality Questionnaire (HSPQ) was reported to be useful as a differentiating diagnostic instrument, and was recommended as a screening device and as a measure of continuing progress. (JW)

The Interactive Diagnostic Model, intended to facilitate disability interaction between teacher and clinician on behalf of the young language handicapped child, is described. Four levels of interaction are discussed: identification, diagnosis, management, and follow-up. (JW)

Provided with information on 41 test or subtest scores of 9 school-identified learning disabled (LD) and 9 non-LD students, 65 school psychologists, 38 special education teachers, and 21 university students found that accuracy and interjudge agreement were difficult in discriminating between LD and non-LD students. (Authors)

This document addresses issues in the identification of children with specific learning disability (SLD) in the context of reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It first reviews current requirements in federal law, noting discrepancies in the regulations, then discusses several SLD identification approaches and…

The Ozawa Behavioral Rating Scale contains six items related to distractibility and nine items related to impulsivity. This validity study showed that the Scale shows statistically significant relationships with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Revised and the Matching Familiar Figures Test and may be appropriate for identifying…

The author traces efforts to define and redefine learning disabilities (LD). The inclusion of children in LD classes who do not meet requirements of the definition is seen as a common yet dangerous practice. (CL)

Problems with restricting learning disabilities to a range of mild handicaps are noted and five areas of controversy affecting severely learning disabled students are addressed: definitions, student characteristics, identification criteria, educational methods and technology, and educational services. (CL)

The paper explores several issues which effect the accurate assessment of language and reading disorders and, thus, of discrepancy between expected potential and actual achievement. For related information see EC 132 758-768. (Author)

Intake placement data were collected from the files of 1,966 students labeled and served as learning disabled in Child Service Demonstration Centers (CSDC) in 22 states. There appeared to be a lack of consistency in the characteristics of students labeled learning disabled. (Author)

This study examined effects on 62 elementary students with learning disabilities undergoing triennial reevaluation of the change from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Revised to the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Third Edition. Results indicate changes in the correlation with Woodcock-Johnson--Revised Tests of Achievement…