Specific Learning Disabled

Referral Process

• Identification of the student's learning problem and current functioning level in school.

• Screening for vision, hearing, speech and language functioning with referral for complete evaluation where the need is indicated.

• Review of social, psychological, medical, and achievement data in the student's cumulative record.

• Review of attendance record, and where applicable, investigation of reasons for excessive absenteeism.

Eligibility

• Documented evidence which indicates that general education interventions have been attempted and found to be ineffective in meeting the student's educational needs.

• Evidence of a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes required for learning.
  A psychological process is a set of mental operations that transform, access, or manipulate information.

• Evidence of academic achievement which is significantly below the student's level of intellectual functioning.
  For students below age 7 - work samples of reading math may be used.  
  Students age 7 - 10 - a discrepancy of one standard deviation or more between an intellectual standard score and achievement score.
  Students 11 and above - a discrepancy of one and one/half standard deviation or more between intellectual standard score and achievement score.

• Evidence that learning problems are not due primarily to other handicapping conditions.

Support Services

Support services may include: audiology, counseling, psychological services, recreation, rehabilitation counseling, school health service, social work, transportation, early identification and assessment, medical services to determine medically related disability resulting in the need for special education and transition.

Curriculum

The curriculum for each student with specific learning disabilities is the sunshine State Standards with appropriate accommodations.  Curriculum decisions reflect progress toward a standard high school diploma for most students with specific learning disabilities.  A special diploma is for those students with cognitive disabilities who need a functional curriculum to address appropriate outcomes.

Training

The ESE Training Plan provides training for all teachers of disabled students.  All teachers may attend inservices listed on the District Training Plan, if applicable.