LD News is a free e-publication of the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). It is sent out monthly and addresses issues related to learning disabilities for parents, care-givers, educators, advocates and individuals with learning disabilities.

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Letter from NCLD
NCLD's Executive Director, James Wendorf, discusses the importance of NCLB and its impact on students with learning disabilities, and NCLD's commitment to providing leadership and engaging decision-makers in well-informed discussion about ways to ensure that students with disabilities realize the full benefit of this important legislation.

Research Roundup
NCLD's Director of Professional Services, Dr. Sheldon Horowitz, shares an overview of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD) and highlights some helpful resources created by this consortium of leading organizations in the field of LD.

Policy Updates
In this issue, find out about an NCLD-sponsored policy briefing, read about future plans for the reauthorization of NCLB, get information on adolescent reading programs and new legislation that aims to reduce the high school dropout rate, and more.

News Desk
Find out what a new study says about the importance of comfort in the kindergarten classroom, get connected to a new Web site for adult literacy, find out what every policymaker and educator should know about promoting early learning, and more in this month's News Desk.

Rewards and Roadblocks: How Special Education Students Are Faring Under No Child Left Behind
The National Center for Learning Disabilities has released a comprehensive report on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and its impact on students who receive special education in our nation's schools -- almost half of whom have learning disabilities (LD). The new report provides a compelling look at how several NCLB requirements have affected this important and often controversial subgroup of students.  A companion study on State Test Accommodations Policies provides an overview of the variance and validity of these policies. Both reports provide recommendations for the reauthorization of NCLB, now underway in the U.S. Congress.

LD Links
This month, read why test performance might not be a true measure of potential, find out about the updates to the HEATH Resource Center, get help finding high-quality pre-k programs and services, and more.

RTI Update
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Endorses Response to Intervention in Latest Position Statement on the Identification of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities
NASP's latest position statement on Specific Learning Disabilities clearly states the organization's endorsement of Response to Intervention as the instruction model that best relates to its mission of "promoting policies and practices that are consistent with scientific research and that yield optimal student outcomes."  NASP asserts that the tiered Response to Intervention model effectively addresses the learning needs of all children (including those with SLD), by providing for quality instruction in the general education classroom while allowing for efficient and appropriate instructional interventions prior to special education instruction referral.

Join our Virtual Community on LD.org
NCLD's Parent Center has created a virtual community with parents in mind. The newly added message boards focus on the "parent perspective," and highlight conversations about education, family life, and engaging monthly topics. The live moderated parent chats occur Tuesday at 2:00 p.m., Thursday at 9:00 p.m and Sunday at 7:00 p.m. (ET). Monthly listings of specialty chats will be announced on the Parent Center home page. Come with questions, suggestions and conversation! Visit the NCLD Parent Center Community home page and join into the conversation on the new message boards.