The purpose of this article is to understand the decision-making processes by assessment personnel when choosing instruments to evaluate students with learning disabilities. Eight school personnel responsible for the evaluation of students in Texas participated in face-to-face, semistructured interviews. The instruments chosen were based on a…

The study examined the stability of WISC-R (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised) Verbal-Performance (V-P) differences at the triannual reevaluation of 71 learning disabled students from Hawaii. Results revealed a slight increase of three points in the V-P differences, with a correlation of .55 between the Time 1 and Time 2 V-P…

An investigation of the use of an experimental test battery in discriminating between normally achieving and learning disabled secondary students (N=75) revealed that three items from the four tests effectively discriminated between the two groups of students. These were the TOAL Reading Quotient, the Woodcock-Johnson Proofing and the Raven's…

The booklet specifies procedures used in Ohio for determining the existence of a severe discrepancy between intellectual ability and achievement in learning disabled (LD) students. An introductory section outlines state regulations regarding eligibility criteria for determining LD. A three-step procedure is then described (and illustrated in a…

Diagnostic procedures used to identify children (grades K-6) with learning disabilities in 14 school districts were studied and compared. Although some similarities existed between districts, uniformity was lacking in important areas such as test selection, extent of testing, and cutoff scores on intelligence and other tests. (Author/CL)

The paper examines use of a children's revision of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB-CR) for three aspects of neuropsychologic assessment in children: the absence or presence of learning disability (LD), patterns in dysfunction, and rehabilitation potential and strategies. A review of research covers the use of the battery in the…

The paper looks at purposes of educational assessment of children with learning disabilities, assessment of the whole child, the plan for an assessment battery, the nuances of carrying out the assessment, and communication of the results to maximize appropriate follow up. Assessment purposes identified include screening, determining eligibility,…

The theory, presented by Ginsberg (TM 508 964), that quantitative indicators are likely to be corrupted when used for purposes of accountability is supported by the results of the Learning Disabilities Identification Study. The quantitative indicator in this case had to do with selection of pupils eligible for services for the handicapped. (BW)

Investigated the performance of learning-disabled (LD) and behavior-disorder (BD) children and youth (N=135) on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. Results suggested that discriminant function analysis can be useful as one criterion in differentiating LD children from BD children. Implications are discussed. (WAS)

Schools committed to the success of all children must have an array of activities designed to address barriers to learning. This introductory packet contains some aids to help school staff find new ways of thinking about how schools should assess barriers to learning. The following items are included in the packet: (1) a chart of "Barriers to…

This study examined the use of psychoeducational evaluations by surveying 91 service providers to college students with learning disabilities. Findings indicated that data from psychoeducational evaluations serve as the primary basis for both eligibility and specific accommodation determinations. Respondents reported the most useful information…

This study compared performance of 181 students with learning disabilities (LD) and 184 students without LD on tests under four conditions (standard, extended time, large print, students reading aloud). Students with LD profited differentially from reading aloud but not from extended time or large print. The assessment based on data predicted…

The author was asked to address the future of the field of learning disabilities (LD) from the perspective of a director of one of the five Institutes for Research on Learning Disabilities (IRLD) funded by the Office of Special Education Programs more than 25 years ago. The theme of each of the Institutes differed; the Minnesota IRLD focused on…

The assessment and diagnosis of learning disabilities (LD) in the school is problematic. How do educators determine who is learning disabled? What practices are recommended? The main focus of the paper is on specific, relatively technical points that influence the validity of assessment. Since technical concerns are only one of the factors…

To date, research, development, and implementation efforts in responsiveness to intervention (RTI) approaches have focused on prevention and often identification of learning disabilities. In this article, the authors extend the conversation to considering an RTI-type approach as being useful in changing the way prevention and identification of…