Which model replaced the discrepancy model in identifying learning disabilities?

• A. Discrepancy Model
• B. RTI Model
• C. Cognitive Processing Model
• D. Behavioral Analysis Model

Answer: (B)

The item tests how learning disabilities are identified using a system that focuses on how students respond to instruction rather than gaps between ability and achievement. This approach is the RTI model, which uses a multi-tiered system of supports, ongoing progress monitoring, and data-based decision making. Instead of waiting for a large IQ–achievement discrepancy to appear, RTI looks at whether a student shows inadequate progress despite high-quality, evidence-based instruction. When insufficient response occurs across tiers, that data guides eligibility decisions and the need for more intensive intervention.

The other models don’t serve as the replacement for discrepancy-based identification. The cognitive processing approach examines underlying mental processes but isn’t the universal framework used to determine disability eligibility. The behavioral analysis model centers on behavior and often informs interventions, not the identification framework for learning disabilities. The discrepancy model itself is the older method that RTI supersedes by focusing on instructional response rather than a static gap.