Response to Intervention (RTI) models of diagnosis and intervention are being implemented rapidly throughout the schools. The purposes of invoking an RTI model for disabilities in the schools clearly are laudable, yet close examination reveals an unappreciated paucity of empirical support for RTI and an overly optimistic view of its practical,…

Responds to previous article (Gresham and Gansle, this issue) which reviewed relevance of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition-Revised (DSM-III-R), and concluded that DSM-III-R is largely irrelevant for school psychology practice. Notes that Gresham and Gansle's proposal is not more powerful and cannot replace…

Contrary to findings with older children, no sex differences occurred in scoring on the anxiety scale. Kindergarten children generally scored higher on the anxiety scale than did older children. Lie scale scores were comparable to those of other primary grade children. (Author)

This article evaluates conclusions in Van den Broeck's article (2002) that argue the regression-based discrepancy method (RDM) used in learning disabilities diagnosis is invalid because it is inconsistent with the underlying underachievement concept of which it is intended to be the operationalization. It concludes acceptable models support the…

Two key concepts in diagnosing learning disabilities ("severe discrepancy" and "process dysfunction") are reviewed, and their relationship to the habilitation of learning is discussed. Guidelines are given for calculating a severe discrepancy, and the evaluation of processing skills is discussed. Strength models of remediation…

The use of grade equivalent scores contrasted against grade placement is widespread in the diagnosis of dyslexia and other reading disabilities. Discusses difficulties and distortions of this method. Presents an alternative method for reliably determining aptitude/achievement discrepancies. (Author)