Principles for SLD Eligibility: Practice & Policy Considerations for States and School Districts

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In collaboration with six partners, DLD is proud to announce the release of three new resources to improve the evaluation process for students with SLD. The resources in this series are titled “Principles for SLD Eligibility: Practice & Policy Considerations for States and School Districts.” The topics include:

While each state has its own process for determining eligibility for special education under the SLD category and though we do not endorse a particular method for identification, there is room for improvement. Regardless of the model they use, it is imperative that states and districts continue to examine their practices and policies in an effort to eliminate inconsistency, decrease frustration, improve collaboration, and better serve students. States and districts play important roles in setting up the infrastructure necessary for high-quality identification practices.  

In July 2019, we worked with partners to release a set of eight principles to guide the evaluation process. Now, we are excited to share three more comprehensive resources that highlight policy and practice considerations to support the implementation of those joint principles and encourage districts to move toward high-quality identification and evaluation processes.

This network of national organizations recognizes the need to tackle persistent challenges related to eligibility for special education and identifying students with SLD. We will continue to serve as resources to states and districts who seek to improve their policies and practices in this area. 
For a full set of resources on this topic, visit www.ncld.org/SLDeligibility.