Specific Learning Disabilities

Specific learning disability determination

Responsiveness to intervention

Screening

Progress monitoring

Tiered service delivery

Data-based decision making

Parent involvement

Fidelity of implementation

How To ...

New endeavors require knowledgeable guidance. Our How To section taps experts in RTI and its components (progress monitoring or screening, for example), SLD determination, and parents' roles to compile recommendations and examples in each of the following areas:

Specific learning disability determination--the process school systems use to confirm that a student does or does not have a learning disability.

Responsiveness to intervention--a tiered service delivery model that promotes early identification of students who may be at risk for learning difficulties.

Screening--a type of assessment characterized by quick, low-cost, repeatable testing of critical skills or behaviors.

Progress monitoring--a set of assessment procedures for determining the extent to which students are benefiting from classroom instruction and for monitoring the effectiveness of curriculum.

Tiered service delivery--increasingly intense levels of service in which instruction is differentiated to meet learner needs.

Data-based decision making--a system in which decisions about a student's learning needs are based on data, such as progress monitoring results.

Parent involvement--consistent, organized, and meaningful two-way communication between school staff and parents.

Fidelity of implementation--delivery of instruction in the way in which it was designed to be delivered.