Northridge Academy

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Approach to Determination of Specific Learning Disabilities The academy has adopted the Wayne County RESA Guidelines for determining eligibility for specific learning disabilities which combines the processes of Response to Intervention and Patterns of Strengths and Weakness. You may access these guidelines via RESA's resources.

You can also obtain additional information by referring to the Student Handbook or contacting the school.

 

 

 

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A Specific Learning Disability is "a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia that adversely affects a student's educational performance. A specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities; mental retardation; emotional disturbance; or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage." (34 CFR § 300.8(c) (10).

Determination of SLD

 

 

 

 

 

With the Response to Intervention method, the student is provided with explicit evidence-based interventions. Student progress is carefully measured and the instructional interventions are adjusted to teach the skills necessary for the student to make progress toward age or grade-level standards. Based on the student's response to the interventions, the group then determines whether or not the student demonstrates a specific learning disability.

 

 

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The "Patterns of Strength and Weakness" method requires an extensive analysis of the student's performance, achievement or both, when compared to age, State-approved grade-level standards, or intellectual development, using appropriate assessments.

 

 

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A Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) conducts a full and individual evaluation of a student suspected of having a specific learning disability. The MET, based upon its evaluation of the student, then makes its recommendation of eligibility to the Individualized Education Planning Team (IEPT). The student's IEPT then determines SLD eligibility.

If you suspect that your child has a specific learning disability, please contact the school's special education teacher.