(Canada)Yahoo News: Schools need to assess special needs earlier

Sept 8, 2017, Yahoo News, Canada: Earlier testing promised for special needs in school children https://ca.news.yahoo.com/earlier-testing-promised-special-needs-145714678.html Special needs assessments for children in Newfoundland and Labrador are late and ineffective, and the education minister is committing to do something about it. Children in the province's schools do not undergo comprehensive assessments until Grade 4. Dale Kirby said attitudes around early diagnoses of learning disorders and other exceptionalities need to change. A recent report on the province's education system made recommendations for earlier interventions. … Parents of struggling children can get their child assessed earlier but the testing is done independently of the school system. As a result, waitlists span more than a year and the cost is more than $2,000....