Discrepancy Model

A disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language, spoken or written, that affects the ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. This is the most common disability category under IDEA and includes conditions like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.

A multi-tiered framework used to identify students who are struggling and provide them with increasingly intensive levels of support. RTI is often used before a special education referral to determine if a student's difficulties can be addressed through general education interventions. It typically has three tiers of increasing intensity.

A comprehensive assessment conducted by a school psychologist that typically includes cognitive (IQ) testing, academic achievement testing, and often social-emotional and behavioral assessments. It is commonly used to determine eligibility for special education, particularly for specific learning disabilities.