There has been some discussion on qualifying students for special ed.  I have (and always have had) a burning question about this:  if a student is performing at a SS of 85 and their ability level is a SS of 105, making them within the 15 - 20 point descrepanc y, then they would qualify for special.  I don't understand this: they show a high ability and a low performance.  To me, this means that they are smart and capable but have not learned - or have not been taught.  However, if a student is performing at a SS of 85 and has an ability level or IQ of 93, then they do not qualify.  They show, through their scores, that they are the ones who would need more explicit, more intensive, and more repetitive instruction but they do not get any.  Could someone explain to me the reasoning behind this method?  

Thanks, 

Nora 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/learningdisabilities/attachments/20091031/ca3ee6dc/attachment.html