This workshop addresses specific issues in disproportionality facing education professionals working with diverse learners with learning and behavior problems, particularly language minority students, and provides guidelines to the assessment, intervention and identification strategies that are most effective in separating difference from disability. Participants will learn best practice strategies to assist teams in determining the degree to which ESL contributes to academic and/or behavioral concerns.
Participants will learn what tools and strategies are available and appropriate to use. Response to intervention and response to instruction and intervention (RTI and RTII models) models for English Language Learners will also be explored, focusing upon the interpretation of data gathered during the general education intervention problem-solving process, prior to conducting an evaluation for special education. This process will ultimately lead to strategies and interventions that will reduce barriers to special populations.