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IEP discrepancy question.

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

This is what our state documents say is required to get classified as LD”:

” A student who exhibits a discrepancy of 50 percent or more between expected achievement and actual achievement determined on an individual basis shall be deemed to have a learning disability”

Can someone give me an example of how to look at the 50%? Given an IQ of 120, say, what reading achievement score would be necessary? Thanks!

Submitted by Helen on Tue, 10/04/2005 - 3:01 AM

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Karen,

If you look at the chart of standard scores and % tile in Pete Wright’s Test and Measurement document you will see how standard scores map to %tile. The document can be found at:
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/assessment/tests_measurements.html#anchor813501

The IQ of 120 maps to a %tile of 91. Take 91 - 50 which equals 41. So a child would have a descrepancy according to NY at 41 %tile. 41 %tile maps to > 87 standard score. My guess is the child would have to be below 87 to have the 50% descrepency. The federal law also states that you can’t just use one measure and that you have to look at other information; teacher observation, work samples.

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