-Screening is the first step and it involves the decision about if a student’s performance differs

enough from his/her peers to need a change in instruction, it may prevent special education or
eventually an assessment to determine whether or not a disability is present.
-Diagnosis is the decision that considers if the student is eligible for special education services.
A teacher could also give a test prior to teaching to learn the students’ strengths, weaknesses
and knowledge to determine the students’ difficulties and to help that teacher with their lesson
-Program placement is the third step and it involves the decision of where a student’s special
education services will be. Such as, the classroom with their peers or a special education
classroom. It also helps the teacher decide if the student should be in a lower level reading class
or if they are ready for a higher level.
-Curriculum placement helps decide what level the instruction should begin for the students. In
elementary, it helps a teacher decide which reading or math book a student should use. In
secondary, the decision likely determines which class a student should take.
-Instructional evaluation are decisions that are made by closely monitoring a students’
progress. It helps determine whether the instructional procedures should continue or change.
-Program evaluation is the final step and it is the decision of whether a student’s special
education program is no loner needed, if it should be continued or if the program should be
modified. The teacher should consider whether or not the student is meeting the general ed
curriculum. The teacher could also evaluate the special education’s program success by looking
over the IEP goals and what has been attained.