The issue of over identification of students as Specific Learning Disabled is a nationwide problem and Pitt County Schools is no exception. The purpose of this Problem of Practice study was to focus on the implementation and monitoring of a tiered intervention system at the school level. This study looked specifically at improving the "strike…

This study examines the effects of English Learner (EL) status on subsequent Special Education (SPED) placement. Through a research-practice partnership, we link student demographic data and initial English proficiency assessment data across seven cohorts of test takers and observe EL and SPED programmatic participation for these students over…

The criteria regular education teachers use to determine which students to refer for evaluation not only vary, but are also unclear. In the best interest of children, it is important to understand what leads to a teacher referral of certain students and not others. Thus the primary objective of this study was to identify the factors that influence…

Analysis of teacher ratings, referral, and special education placement data on 74 hyperactive and 101 control Ss revealed that hyperactive Ss were more likely to be served by special education than control Ss. Aggression among hyperactive but not control Ss was associated with receiving services. (CL)

Evaluation of school records of 379 students, ages 6-12 years, referred for possible learning disability (LD) placement found that more than 80 percent of the referred students were placed in LD classes and that two-thirds of those referred scored below the severe discrepancy cutoff on the aptitude-achievement formula. (Author/DB)

Described for regular classroom teachers are guidelines for identifying children who might have specific learning disabilities. (MC)

A prereferral intervention system was implemented in three schools (two elementary, one junior high) in which consultation, observation, and intervention occurred before a student entered the typical referral-for-assessment phase. A survey assessing teachers' beliefs about special services and teachers' expectations and preferences about the…

E. Burns' (1984) attempt to explain the below average mean IQ scores reported for samples of learning dsabled (LD) students through the use of the bivariate normal probability distribution was examined. Alternative explanations which focus on issues related to the referral, identification, and placement of children are presented.(Author)

This article examines a 1995 treatment validity model as a framework for identifying learning disabilities. This model: (1) examines both student performance and responsiveness to instruction; (2) delays special education referral until the effects of individual student adaptations in the regular classroom have been explored; and (3) verifies that…

Six years of research on issues in assessment and identification of learning disabilities are summarized. The focus of the summary is on referral processes. The first chapter highlights major findings on questions of how many students are referred, student characteristics, reasons for referral, and the nature of the referral process (pre-referral…

The manual is designed to assist local New York State Committees on the Handicapped in the identification of learning disabled (LD) children and in the development of recommendations for the provision of special education programs and services in the least restrictive educational setting. The manual provides information on: the most currently…

Of 236 children referred for special education evaluation from 12 suburban and rural school districts, 128 were diagnosed as learning disabled. Results suggest that the number of students referred who are actually placed is lower (approximately one out of two) than previously reported. (Author/JDD)

Based on an extensive literature search, this paper identifies key actions school administrators may take regarding systems that limit or avoid student referrals for special education services. Findings indicate that referrals may be limited by early intervention strategies and overall improvement of the mainstream educational system. Includes 93…

Results of the study of the relative effects of two previewing procedures on oral reading (listening to the teacher reading or listening to a taped recording) with four elementary-aged learning disabled boys found both previewing procedures superior to no previewing and the teacher reading previewing more effective than the taped previewing.…

A model is presented for assuring the appropriate identification and referral of students with learning disabilities to special education. The model formalizes a regular education component in six steps for implementation in regular education contexts, followed by seven procedural safeguards once a student has been referred for comprehensive…