Many states are now utilizing the Response to Intervention (RTI) model to identify students who need help, before considering a complete Learning Disability Assessment that qualifies children for Special Education Services.
Response to Intervention is a 3-tiered process that the Federal Government is insisting States use to identify children that are struggling in both math and reading. Different teaching strategies and interventions are to be tried before a child can qualify for Special Education Services or is identified as a student with a Learning Disability.
The challenge is that RTI can take from 3 to 6 months or longer to determine what, if any, teaching methods work best for your child. If the school then determines your child should be further assessed for Special Education Services, that request for a Learning Disabilities Assessment may take another few months to complete.
There is a way to shorten the process.
We have developed recommendations for you to request doing RTI and a Learning Disabilities Assessment simultaneously. For more information go to Request For LD Testing, where you will find sample letters to use.