ERIC Number: EJ789803
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Jun
Pages: 17
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4405
EISSN: N/A
Ethical and Legal Issues Associated with Using Response-to-Intervention to Assess Learning Disabilities
Burns, Matthew K.; Jacob, Susan; Wagner, Angela R.
Journal of School Psychology, v46 n3 p263-279 Jun 2008
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 allows schools to use a child's response to research-based intervention (RTI) as a part of procedures to identify students with learning disabilities. This paper considers whether RTI-based assessment models meet ethical and legal standards for acceptable assessment practices. Based on a review of available research, it was concluded that RTI-based assessment practices, when carefully crafted and implemented, have the potential to be multifaceted, fair, valid, and useful. Threats to acceptable RTI-based assessment practices include: the lack of research-based interventions appropriate for diverse academic domains, ethnic groups, grades K-12, and students with limited English proficiency; uncertainty regarding how to determine when nonresponse to intervention warrants formal referral for evaluation of special education eligibility; difficulty translating scientifically sound RTI practices to the local school level; and inadequate staff training and poor treatment fidelity. Suggested directions for future research are included.
Descriptors: Compliance (Legal), Intervention, Elementary Secondary Education, Learning Disabilities, Ethics, Educational Assessment, Evaluation Methods, Theory Practice Relationship, Disability Identification, Evaluation Problems, Special Education, Federal Legislation
Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: Researchers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A