Many school psychologists spend a large portion of their time conducting evaluations for special education, but school psychologists' confidence in learning disability (learning disability[ies] [LD]) identification has not been examined experimentally. This study examined differences in 376 school psychologists' confidence in their identification…

Specific learning disabilities (SLD) identification has consistently been shown to be problematic; however, research has largely focused on SLD identification using test scores only. The present study, therefore, examined SLD identification decisions across identification methods and student evaluation data levels, including test scores,…

We describe findings from a series of longitudinal studies utilizing a response to intervention framework implemented over 3 years with students in Grades 6 through 8 with reading disabilities and poor reading comprehension. Students were identified based on reading comprehension scores in Grade 5 (n = 1,083) and then randomized to treatment or…

The National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD) strongly supports comprehensive assessment and evaluation of students with learning disabilities by a multidisciplinary team for the identification and diagnosis of students with learning disabilities. Comprehensive assessment of individual students requires the use of multiple data…

Literacy is a complex set of skills that comprise the interrelated processes of reading and writing required within varied socio-cultural contexts. Underdeveloped literacy skills have profound consequences for students, families, and society. These effects are academic, social, emotional, and economic in nature. Students with learning disabilities…

Little is known about how best to teach mathematics to students with learning disabilities. This study explored the performance and self-reported calculator use of 13 sixth-grade and 15 seventh-grade students with learning disabilities educated in either standards-based or traditional mathematics curricula on multiple-choice and open-ended…

One out of every 11 postsecondary undergraduates report having a disability, and students with learning disabilities are the largest and fastest growing subgroup of this population. Although faculty are becoming more comfortable with providing students with learning disabilities accommodations as mandated by federal law, many instructors are using…

Available from: Council for Exceptional Children, 1920 Association Drive, Reston, Virginia 22091. The final federal regulations of P.L. 94-142 the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, have omitted the learning disability specialist from the team to evaluate students suspected of having learning disabilities, an action which is seen as a…

The author was asked to address the future of the field of learning disabilities (LD) from the perspective of a director of one of the five Institutes for Research on Learning Disabilities (IRLD) funded by the Office of Special Education Programs more than 25 years ago. The theme of each of the Institutes differed; the Minnesota IRLD focused on…

A survey of 307 research studies in learning disabilities (LD) was conducted to determine the nature and characteristics of the LD identification criteria used. It was concluded that LD research presents a divergent picture of the nature and characteristics of LD and reflects little consensus regarding identification criteria. (Author)

Students with disabilities must meet many testing demands, given the current emphasis on accountability and state competency testing. The purpose of this project was to develop and field test a computerized program to teach the Test-Taking Strategy (Hughes, Schumaker, Deshler, & Mercer, 1988) to secondary-level students with disabilities. The…

The study involving 28 learning disabled (LD) elementary students developed and field-tested a microcomputer version of the Test of Written Spelling (TWS) to determine if examiner time and scoring errors could be reduced. Results supported the supposition that a computerized version of the TWS is advantageous for use with LD students. (SB)

Competence in algebra is linked to access to higher education, employment in better-paying jobs, and, increasingly, the ability to earn a high school diploma. For many students with learning disabilities, developing proficiency in algebra represents a challenging, but necessary goal. Teachers of students with learning disabilities need access to…

The validity of the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery was evaluated with a sample of 50 learning disabled fourth graders. In general, the Battery has some convergent validity but little discriminant validity relative to various cluster scores or specific uses. (Author)

The paper discusses the rationale for conducting an ecological assessment of learning disabled students, provides a model for conceptualizing ecological assessment data, notes factors affecting student performance, gives sources of ecological assessment data, and draws implications of such data for the teacher. (Author/DB)