SLD Evaluation Procedures
St. Johns Public Schools District Procedures for Determination of a Specific Learning Disability
Consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004 (IDEA) regulation at 34 CFR § 300.309, the Michigan Criteria for Determining the Existence of a Specific Learning Disability (SLD), May 2010 and all other applicable federal and state regulatory requirements, policies and procedures, each school district is required to publicly post the process used in the determination of a Specific Learning Disability. Consistent with this requirement, St. Johns Public Schools uses the following process in the determination of a Specific Learning Disability:
The district uses a Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses process for the determine of a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) in all district elementary and secondary buildings K-12 in the areas of oral expression, listening comprehension, written expression, basic reading skill, reading fluency skills, reading comprehension, mathematics calculation, and mathematics problem solving*. As a component of the evaluation process the following must be included in the evaluation and eligibility determination:
- The student does not achieve adequately for the student’s age or to meet State-approved grade-level standards in one or more of the areas identified at 34 CFR §300.309(a)(1)(i) when provided with learning experiences and instruction appropriate* for the student’s age or State-approved grade-level standards; and
- The student exhibits a pattern of strengths and weaknesses in performance, achievement, or both, relative to age, State-approved grade-level standards, or intellectual development, that is determined by the MET to be relevant to the identification of a SLD, using appropriate assessments, consistent with the IDEA Evaluation Procedures and Additional Requirements for Evaluations and Reevaluations.
Under the Pattern of Strengths and Weakness approach, progress monitoring data collected as a part of Response to Intervention (RTI) will be utilized as a component of this evaluation.
* The USDOE notes that appropriate instruction has the following characteristics: Scientifically research based, provided by qualified personnel, student progress data is systematically collected and analyzed.
For more detailed information about the SLD evaluation process,
please visit the CCRESA website at www.ccresa.org.
