The National Research Center on Learning Disabilities (NRCLD) conducts research on the identification of learning disabilities; formulates implementation recommendations; disseminates findings; and provides technical assistance to national, state, and local constituencies.
NRCLD analyzes existing and emerging alternative methods of identifying students with learning disabilities, including methods of measuring learners' progress in curricula, such as Curriculum-Based Measurement. We study state and local policies to determine factors that explain the differences in the number and characteristics of students identified with learning disabilities from state to state, from district to district within a state, and even from school to school within a district.
As a result of our research findings, we are developing recommendations that promote the use of research-based best practices. We want to ensure that policies and practices of disability definition and determination match current scientific knowledge. We recognize that policies are matters of science and values. Science-based findings can improve the development of policies that further shared goals for the public as a whole, and particularly for students identified as having a disability.
NRCLD has an obligation to raise the awareness of policymakers, parents, special education administrators, and diagnosticians in understanding research findings and using that information when making decisions. Those decisions may involve the identification methods for individual students and the programmatic concerns of providing educational and related services. Consequently, we are dedicated to sharing high quality information, targeted for specified audiences, and to supporting those audiences in using the information. We intend to disseminate our research findings to this diverse and widespread public through our web site, an extensive network of professional development experts, and numerous publications and organizations.
We believe that information derived from our research will be instrumental to improving policies, procedures, and practices related to learning disabilities, if only that information reaches the right people in the right way. To address this concern, we will offer technical assistance and training that responds to specific requests at the local, state, and national level. We are developing tools and professional development materials in a variety of formats and will distribute these materials in numerous formats--such as workshops, teleconferences, conference presentations, and self-study curricular materials--customized to meet individual constituency needs.
Funding for NRCLD is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special
Education Programs. Award No. H324U010004. Opinions expressed herein are those of the National
Research Center on Learning Disabilities and do not necessarily represent the position of the U.S.
Department of Education.
© 2007 National Research Center on Learning Disabilities
Last Updated: November 19, 2007
Contact: nrcld@ku.edu