The Need of Utilizing A Comprehensive Assessment Tool to Provide Efficient Special Education Services for Students with Learning Disabilities, in Elementary and Intermediate Schools in Beirut, II & III Districts

النوع : Mémoire

The Lebanese Center for Educational Research and Development CERD advocates the right for students with learning disabilities LD to obtain special education services that serve their specific needs. Such services, however, can only be construed through a comprehensive multifaceted assessment tool that identifies the specific individual needs of LD students. This study investigated the adequacy of current assessment tools used in Lebanese private elementary and intermediate schools to identify the needs of LD students and, consequently, propose efficient educational and therapeutic services that could serve those needs. The study employed two research methodologies, the qualitative and the quantitative methods. Two study samples and two data gathering methods were chosen. The samples were located in the II and III districts of Beirut. The first sample consisted of 67 mothers and fathers of LD students, and the second sample consisted of 67 private school principals for grades 4 through 9. Results obtained showed that private elementary and intermediate schools in Beirut apply assessment tools that are not adequate to suggest efficient special educational and therapeutic services. Schools need to utilize a comprehensive multifaceted assessment tool that identifies the particular needs of LD students and consequently suggest special education services that serve those needs.