School work is designed to challenge students and help them meet grade-level academic standards. Students with disabilities have the right to learn and participate in the general education curriculum. Public school districts must provide these students with the services, accommodations, and modifications that they need to learn the same material…

As it has become a prominent feature in the identification of students with specific learning disabilities (SLD), response to intervention (RTI) has generated significant interest and, in some respects, controversy regarding assessment and attendant procedures. In the present study, the authors surveyed state directors of special education…

The number of students identified under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) with an emotional disturbance (ED) has remained remarkably stable over the last 30 years. During this time, approximately 1% of the school-aged population has been identified as disabled under the criteria set forth in IDEA (Kim, Forness, & Walker,…

A Fall 2010 survey of AISD parents, staff, and community members showed most were very satisfied with the district's preschool program for students with disabilities (PPCD). A separate supplemental report also was published.

This brief one-page report highlights some results described in the full report (published separately) of a Fall 2010 survey of AISD parents, staff, and community members. The results showed most were very satisfied with the district's preschool program for students with disabilities (PPCD).

Problems facing African American students with special needs are numerous and complex. Although processes and procedures are in place to properly serve these students, far too many become ensnared in webs of bureaucracy and benign neglect. This article examines African American students? experiences with special education in Milwaukee Public…

Results of surveying of 41 teachers who had experience with learning disability preassessment teams (intended to focus on regular classroom intervention prior to comprehensive evaluation) suggested that teachers were pleased with preassessment team members but did not agree that the teams' intervention recommendations were successful in correcting…

The background and effects of Luke S. and Hans S. vs. Nix et al, a class action suit in Louisiana are discussed. The resulting changes in assessment practices, includng prereferral intervention, curriculum based assessment, and state-wide inservice training for assessment staff are noted. (Author/CL)

This issue provides some general guidelines for lawyers to follow in advising a school district to consider referral of a student for special education assessment. It provides information on the evaluation and eligibility requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, case law addressing child find activities, and criteria for…

These guidelines are intended to assist North Dakota educators in locating, identifying, and evaluating children and youth with special educational needs. They provide detailed information regarding required practices and recommended procedures in the areas of public awareness, child find, screening, referral, and the complete evaluation process.…

Students with monocular vision may be in need of special assistance and should be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team to determine whether the visual loss is affecting educational performance. This article discusses the student's eligibility for special services, difficulty in performing depth perception tasks, difficulties in specific classroom…

This study evaluated the effectiveness of using the Observational Checklist of Conversational Skills to facilitate early teacher referral of 37 primary-level children suspected of having language problems and 37 age-matched peers. Twenty-five of the at-risk group scored at least 1.5 standard deviations below the mean; 27 were subsequently referred…

A rural school developed a system to identify and intervene with students whose learning styles did not match the school's predominantly verbal-auditory methods. A School Assessment Team produced a program to be implemented in regular class settings. A case of a second grader illustrates the value of suggested teaching strategies. (CL)

A problem exists in the lack of assessment coordination between monolingual psychologists and bilingual psychologists when working with language minority children referred for evaluation of special needs. This practicum was designed to improve the psychological assessment coordination between monolingual English psychologists and the bilingual…

Many migrant students are not identified for needed special education services in a timely manner. This digest describes the obligations of schools to provide such services, and discusses approaches for student referral, assessment, and placement and working with migrant families. Federal mandates concerning special education are summarized, and…