1. The document discusses issues in determining eligibility for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), specifically around categorizing students with learning disabilities. 2. It outlines the discrepancy formula approach used to identify learning disabilities, but notes that there are problems with overreliance on rigid formulas, including that it can delay services for students until they have significantly fallen behind. 3. Alternative models discussed include response to intervention, which focuses on early intervention, and a component skills model that looks at impairments in specific skills like phonological awareness earlier.

1. Issues in Eligibility: The Difficult to Categorize Child Pennsylvania Bar Institute Friday, September 12, 2003 10:30 to 12:00 Noon Margaret J. Kay, Ed.D., NCSP & Vivian Narehood, Attorney at Law