Special Ed Classroom

Identification and Evaluation

           Since provisions of  the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) took place after July 1, 2005.  The scale of identification and evaluation changed for children with learning disabilities into and out of the special education programs.  Experts began questioning the methods and inconsistencies throughout various districts and states that lead to believe that many children identified as learning disabled (LD) should not have been qualified under the discrepancy model of assessment.  Schools who qualified children who had a sever discrepancy between achievement and intellectual ability may have caused harm to students as it results in delaying intervention until the student’s achievement is sufficiently low.  Once placed in the Special Education program, research has shown an inability to achieve in such a restrictive environment compared to those who have been serviced in there general education class or Least restrictive Environment (LRE). This new model called Response to intervention (RTI) suggest that schools provide evidence of interventions in the general education class before moving a child to a more restrictive environment such as Special Ed.

           Over the past few years that the scale of identification and Evaluation of children into special Ed, some educator are struggling to cope with changes of No Child Left Behind.  No Child Left Behind Laws have made it possible for all children to receive free and appropriate education.  The new (RTI) Response to Intervention model suggests that teachers provide evidence of interventions in the general education class before moving to a special education environment.  Because of this, we have to define appropriate education.  Appropriate education is different for each child and leaves room for question.  Many of the questions are what types of assessments are used in various districts around the region.  Do they discriminate based on social economics?  Are they consistent in transitioning from Elementary school to Middle School and on up to High School.  Parents are concerned as well asking; Is my child going to be made fun of in this program?  Will he be with general Ed students?

            These questions are important because laws have been passed and schools have been sued for not providing an appropriate education and others have been placed in special education classes unjustly based on behavior rather than proper evaluation and assessment.  Children are to be given every opportunity to succeed as possible.