Retention Strategy # 1 - Learning Alert: A Learning
Disabilities Quick Screen

Summary of Learner Feedback

Of the 211 learners who completed the Learning Disabilities Quick Screen, 35% or 73 learners reported missing grades. Nine reported missing more than one grade. Elementary grades in general were missed more frequently (68 elementary grades were missed compared to 14 high school grades). Grades 1 and 2 were missed most frequently. Five learners also reported failing
kindergarten.

In explaining why they had missed grades, 33% said they had trouble keeping up with their studies, while 55% or 40 learners checked off "other" reasons. The Quick Screen did not ask learners to specify "other," but a few offered reasons anyway.

(Actual comments are in Italics.)

Reasons
• slacked off
• moved from a French to an English school
• needed glasses
• too lazy

It is apparent that these kinds of comments are critical in helping practitioners decide whether further assessment is needed. The Quick Screen has been revised to elicit this information.

Thirty eight percent (38%) remember getting help (mainly from a special-ed teacher), but only 15% reported being tested. Twenty-two percent (22%) or 45 learners said they were told they had a learning disability.Most were told by their teachers, family members or doctors. Seventeen percent (17%) reported that another family member had also been diagnosed with a learning disability.

Learners were also asked how much they knew about their learning strengths/weaknesses and about learning disabilities in general. The results are presented in a table below:

This Quick Screen was administered to new and currently enrolled students so it is not known how much the latter group may have already learned about their own learning strengths and weaknesses. Although half the learners reported they knew an average amount in both categories, it would seem that learners would benefit from knowing more.