Under 34 CFR , the public agency must conduct a full and individual evaluation Under 34 CFR , the public agency must ensure: The child is assessed in all areas related to the suspected disability, including, if appropriate, health, vision, hearing, social and emotional status, general intelligence, academic performance, communicative status, and motor abilities [34 CFR (c)(4)] The evaluation is sufficiently comprehensive to identify all of the child’s special education and related services needs [34 CFR (c)(6)]

Federal Definition of Specific Learning Disabilities (34 CFR 300.8(c) Makes reference to “a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes” But, federal regulations at 34 CFR – (Additional Procedures for Identifying Children with Specific Learning Disabilities) do not require assessment of psychological or cognitive processing, nor do they require assessment of intellectual ability

The “Cognitive” Argument “The Department does not believe that an assessment of psychological or cognitive processing should be required in determining whether a child has an SLD. There is no current evidence that such assessments are necessary or sufficient for identifying SLD. Further, in many cases, these assessments have not been used to make appropriate intervention decisions..…In many cases, assessments of cognitive processes simply add to the testing burden and do not contribute to interventions… ” (Federal Register, vol. 72, no. 156, p.46651)

Additional Procedures for SLD To ensure that underachievement is not due to lack of appropriate instruction in reading or math the group must consider: Data that demonstrate that prior to, or as a part of, the referral process, the child was provided appropriate instruction in regular education settings delivered by qualified personnel

Data-based documentation of repeated assessments of achievement at reasonable intervals, reflecting formal assessment of student progress during instruction, which was provided to the child’s parents.