Over the last few decades, several definitions of dyslexia have centered on phonological awareness as the sole linguistic risk factor for developing dyslexia. Although difficulties with the acquisition and application of speech sounds can affect reading and spelling development, additional factors can as well and are included in other…

For this 22nd article in the series reviewing recent court decisions concerning appropriate school psychology practice from both professional and legal perspectives, the topic is child find and eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including as a secondary matter the intersecting requirement for a comprehensive…

School psychologists are well served to stay up to date on trends in special education law, particularly with respect to determinations when school teams' decisions are challenged. This allows them to focus on proactive best practices that foster accurate specific learning disability (SLD) identification and active collaboration with parents. This…

Early identification of ASD allows for clinical intervention through mental and behavioral health supports, potentially providing individualized services in the educational setting. This article highlights the research-to-practice gap that exists within evaluations for ASD in schools. Lack of training, variability in assessment guidelines,…

The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the identification and delivery of special education services for students across the United States. Many students, regardless of previous disability status, are demonstrating increased academic, social-emotional, and medical needs in school in response to instructional disruptions and other impacts of the…

Although Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects approximately 5% of children, the disorder is more frequently seen in males than in females, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 2:1 in children (APA 2013). This discrepancy in prevalence is suggested to lie in the differences in ADHD symptomatology between girls and boys.…

The purpose of this article is to discuss sources of confusion for school district personnel that have resulted in overidentification (i.e., false positives) and underidentification (i.e., false negatives) of 504-only students. The organizing framework for these sources of confusion is the applicable three-pronged legal definition for eligibility…

For this 18th article in the series reviewing recent court decisions concerning appropriate school psychology practice from both professional and legal perspectives, the topic is the IDEA's obligation of providing a comprehensive initial evaluation. More specifically, the focus here is determining eligibility for a gifted child with emotional and…

Given that most schools already conduct reading screening multiple times per year, often using multiple measures, it makes sense to revisit why all this screening may not be giving schools the desired return on investment that they are after. The purpose of this article is to equip school psychologists with an understanding of four common dyslexia…

The modern meaning of "child find" under the IDEA is almost entirely a matter of court decisions, because the legislation (§ 1412[a][3][A]) and the regulations (§ 300.111) are limited to the historical obligation to "locate, identify, and evaluate" students with disabilities. More specifically, in interpreting and applying this…

Approaches to identify and support student social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) needs are necessary to the provision of school-based prevention and intervention services. Limited information exists, however, regarding the current use of SEB practices such as screening in schools. The purpose of The National Exploration of Emotional/Behavioral…

When a child's parents request a special education evaluation, the school generally must promptly evaluate the student. However, many schools implement response to intervention (RTI) to provide students with regular education interventions prior to evaluating the student for special education eligibility. School psychologists may find themselves…

While there are some differences between the construct of specific learning "disability" and "disorder," there are many similarities. Also, due to the number of clinical evaluations school psychologists review in practice, it is necessary to be familiar with the construct of specific learning disorder in order to incorporate…

Systematic screening for behavioral and social-emotional concerns at school is one way to ensure that at-risk children are identified and provided services. School psychologists play a critical role in creating multitiered systems of support that consider universal screening, early intervention, and ongoing progress monitoring to help support…

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and ASD are two common neurobiological disorders in school-age children. In fact, approximately 6.4 million children between the ages of 4 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD since 2011 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). More recent prevalence estimates suggest that five percent of all…