Which of the following is true of pre-referral interventions?

• A. A problem-solving approach
• B. Diagnosis of a learning disability
• C. Isolating the student from peers during the pre-referral process
• D. All of the above

Answer: (A)

Pre-referral interventions use a systematic problem-solving approach within the general education setting to address a student’s learning or behavioral difficulties before considering special education evaluation. Teams of teachers, specialists, and families identify the concern, hypothesize contributing factors, select targeted instructional or behavioral supports, implement them with fidelity, and monitor progress with data. The goal is to determine whether supports in the regular classroom can resolve the issues without moving to formal eligibility testing. This is not about diagnosing a learning disability, which occurs during a formal special education evaluation, and it does not involve isolating the student from peers; the emphasis is on timely supports within the inclusive classroom.