As a result of the upcoming Federal reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), practitioners and researchers have begun vigorously debating what constitutes evidence-based assessment for the identification of specific learning disability (SLD). This debate has resulted in strong support for a method that…

This article briefly reviews the history of intellectual assessment of children and youth in the United States of America, as well as current practices and future directions. Although administration of intelligence tests in the schools has been a longstanding practice in the United States, their use has also elicited sharp controversy over time.…

The research base on how to effectively intervene to improve the reading fluency of students with academic and behavioral disabilities at the middle school level does not provide a strong support for evidence- based practices with this age group. The purpose of this study was to extend the body of research on reading fluency interventions to…

Given their pivotal position, school psychologists have understandable concerns about the possibility of becoming the target of the relatively frequent legal proceedings under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Indeed, the threat of litigation can contribute to a flight from the profession (Lange, 2011). Yet, an informal…

The assessment of cognitive ability in students with the most severe disabilities presents a challenge to the clinicians who are charged with this task. This article is the second of a two-part series that summarizes what is currently known about effective assessment of the cognitive ability of students with significant impairments in order to…

This study examined the effects of an intervention in writing with digital interactive books. To improve the writing skills of seventh- and eighth-grade students with a learning disability in reading, we conducted a quasi-experimental study in which the students read interactive digital books (i-books), took notes, wrote summaries, and acted as…

Demonstrates the need for schools to clearly define diagnostic categories such as learning disabilities (LD). These LD students were considerably different from LD students in other studies. They performed on grade level according to the Wide Range Achievement Test, but significantly below their peers in actual classroom performance. (Author)

Discrepancies between IQ and Index scores on the WISC-III were investigated for a sample of students with Specific Learning Disability (SLD) and with mental retardation and evaluated but not classified. Consistent with the WISC-R literature, the discrepancies between Verbal and Performance IQs and higher Performance than Verbal IQs (which…

The analysis indicated that 10 distinct patterns could account for the variance within the WISC-R subtests. Knowledge of the pattern of strengths and weaknesses did not provide additional prognostic power over that available using the WISC-R full scale IQ alone. (Author/CL)

Compared McCarthy Scale General Cognitive Index (GCI) and Stanford-Binet intelligence quotient (IQ) discrepancies for both normal and handicapped preschool children (N=10) of low socioeconomic status. Results yielded a significant positive relationship between GCI and IQ, as well as a significant discrepancy between the two scores, favoring IQ, of…

The text examines issues related to Hispanic children in special education. Chapter 1 discusses four court cases brought against schools for inappropriate placement of Hispanic and other minority students in classes for the educable mentally retarded. Testing is the focus of Chapter 2, which includes analysis of linguistic and cultural bias,…

This study examined whether Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Revised) subtest patterns employing Kaufman's classification system differ between male and female elementary grade students receiving special education services. It also examined whether females in special education are more significantly impaired than males, and whether males…

This report synthesizes the key themes and ideas discussed at two 1-day workshops addressing issues in the use of IQ tests in special education evaluation and placement. The first section considers the background and legal context of the issue. The next section looks at IQ tests in school settings. Key ideas raised include the importance of never…