Special Education Listserv

Subject: Response to Intervention/LD Identification/Sample Evaluation

Source: Thea Scott, Assistant Director, Compliance

Intended Audience: Special Education Directors and Coordinators, Special Education Teachers

Date: June 26, 2008

The State of Missouri allows two methods for public agencies to use when determining whether or not a student has a Specific Learning Disability (SLD).  One of those methods is responsiveness to a scientific, research-based intervention process.  This is also known as Response to Intervention (RtI) or problem-solving.  

The Division of Special Education has posted a sample evaluation to be used when public agencies are using an RtI model to identify students with a Specific Learning Disability.  Please note this example reflects only one scenario of a possible evaluation report and is not intended to reflect what would be expected in each evaluation report when using RtI for SLD identification.  This document may be found at http://dese.mo.gov/divspeced/RtIpg.html.

Note: Refer to the State of Missouri Guidance for Identification of Specific Learning Disabilities and the State of Missouri RtI Guidelines, Appendix A, documents for information that will assist in directing efforts by public agencies in the use of RtI.  These documents may also be found at the web address referenced above.