Educational Diagnosticians

Dr. Penny Reed is a pioneer in the field of assistive technology assessments. She wrote the WADI, one of the only tools for assessing assistive technology, developed out of a grant for an assistive technology initiative.

The WADI is considered one of the only assessment tools for reporting on assistive technology needs. Find out how to complete free continuing education credits for assistive technology that can be used toward a college certified credits. 

New regulations in Texas allow schools to carry over transfers for summer enrollments with less paperwork and meetings. 

Are MDRs and Outcries eating your lunch? $130 Billion is being allocated to improving mental health in schools. Listen in to the ideas that are being considered. 

The federal government is asking for people like you and me to give your opinion on how Section 504 should be changed. 130 Billion dollars is being allocated for improving mental health in schools.  The idea is that this would happen through 504 plans, but how? Go to the website and give your 2 cents.

American Public Media published a series of investigative articles that revved up the Reading Wars. Despite research that has supported phonics-based programs, Guided Reading programs that depend on the three cuing system continue to be implemented across the nation. The APM articles have created a  push to expose the ineffectiveness of these programs. Lucy Calkins and Fountas and Pinnell have been targeted in this campaign. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact this movement will have on improving reading education.

The Meadows Center has a long history of leading the research community to find instructional strategies and interventions to reduce academic risk. 

Jeremy Miciak and his colleague, Jack Fletcher, from the University of Houston Texas Center for Learning Disabilities argue that cognitive testing is not necessary for the identification of SLD through an SLD Manual with the TEA logo on it.  He argues that cognitive testing through any of the 5 PSW methods are not reliable or valid, and that cognitive testing does not do a good job of effectively guiding instruction.  As an alternative, he poses a TCLD or Hybrid Model that incorporates but formal achievement assessments and detailed progress monitoring data.  

Dr. Nathan Clemens talks to us about the use of screeners for pinpointing children who need intervention.  He explains what makes an assessment a screener, how to compare the quality of screeners, and why we might have some of the screeners we use today.  A student of Edward Shapiro, he hopes to continue the message that the assessment of basic skills is the most relevant information needed when determining SLD and guiding instruction. 

Dr. Amanda VanDerHeyden has done extensive research in Rti, and in the use of CBMs, especially for math calculation skills. She talks about the importance of building calculation fluency, using evidence-based interventions, and the vision of RTi for school improvement.