Specific Learning DisabilitiesLearning Support :

Specific Learning Disability  (SLD) is a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using spoken or written language that may be exhibited as an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. It also includes conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia and developmental aphasia. The current Minnesota rule for SLD was adopted in September 2008.  Find current Minnesota Rule language regarding specific learning disability under Related Links.

The Minnesota Department of Education is developing an updated technical manual to assist teams in making SLD eligibility determinations for students.  It will include legal requirements, practical advice, and theory that will guide teams in this technical process.  The manual is part of a larger training and educational effort to prepare teams to perform their jobs and implement changes to SLD eligibility criteria.  Alone, the manual is not adequate preparation for performing the tasks required to determine SLD eligibility.  The manual will be written at a level that assumes readers hold a working knowledge of characteristics of specific learning disabilities, measurement and evaluation, and data based decision making.

More information on how to design and implement Response to Intervention (RtI) in Minnesota is can be found in the section links for Scaling-up Evidence-Based Practices on in the section links on the right.  For additional information check the Related Links.
 

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