Learning Disabilities

When considering a student for a learning disability the following areas are evaluated.

Severe Underachievement

Before a team assesses for severe underachievement, two preferable interventions must be implemented and evaluated in the area of presenting problem. Then one or more of the following seven academic areas of functioning must be identified and a classroom observation must be performed when determining there is severe underachievement.
  
  Areas of Underachievement

• basic reading skills
• reading comprehension
• mathematical calculation
• mathematical reasoning
• written expression
• oral expression
• listening comprehension

Severe Discrepancy

The second component of sever discrepancy is very specific about the difference in scores necessary to determine a severe discrepancy between general intellectual ability and achievement. The required level is -1.75 standard deviations (SD) below the mean of the distribution of difference scores for the general population of individuals at the student's chronological age. The severe discrepancy must be established in one of the following areas.

• basic reading skills
• reading comprehension
• mathematical calculation
• mathematical reasoning
• written expression
• oral expression
• listening comprehension

Information Processing

The third component of the specific learning disabilities (SLD) criteria requires teams to identify an information processing condition. Teams may determine a student's information processing condition based on observations, interviews, and other data collection procedures. It is important to determine a student's information processing strengths as well as areas of difficulty and use that information to assist in developing a program of specially designed instruction. 

The basis for this section is the identification of an information processing condition is integral to SLD eligibility determination and that information processing deficits are assessable and observable. Identifying strategies to address information processing conditions occurs throughout the process of Individual Education Program (IEP) development.