The Legal Meaning of Specific Learning Disability for Special Education Eligibility

Students with specific learning disability (SLD) continue to account for a higher proportion of all special education enrollments than any other classification under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). According to the latest reported data. in fall 2007 students with SLD amounted to 43.3% of al! students witli disabilities ages 6 to 21 under IDEA, down from the 50% average for the previous decade [Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. 2009).