Melinda Kay Chambers

It delays and denies classification daily. I’ve heard MTSS coordinators say: they are responding to their intervention, so we don’t need to evaluate. If you suspect a disability, that is violating Child Find laws. You are very likely missing coexisting conditions and denying that child access to documented accommodations they will may need down the road like extra time on assessments like the SAT. Additionally a child with a knowledge gap will NOT test the same way as a child with a disability. A reputable psychologist would be able to evaluate and interpret results appropriately. No need to deny or delay needed supports for that fear…because every single day you deny or delay you are allowing that child with a disability to collect additional labels that could have been avoided. MTSS is not part of IDEA and OSEP has repeatedly clarified that RTI can’t be used to delay or deny a child’s access to an evaluation. Schools may have written MTSS into their practice, but it is not regulated by IDEA and does not trump IDEA. Too often it is used as a gatekeeper…hurting too many kids. We need to give better guidance to protect our kids.

Hot take that shouldn’t be a hot take: MTSS isn’t the solution for kids with dyslexia. Dyslexia is a disability that needs to be evaluated for potential comorbidities and identified so that kids can have access to protected accommodations and related services that only come through IEPs or 504s. #DyslexiaAwareness