Which statement best describes the role of data in the ARD committee's decision making for eligibility?

• A. Base decisions on a medical diagnosis alone
• B. Place students based on teacher recommendations only
• C. Use data from a single source to make a determination
• D. Use information from multiple sources of data to determine impact on educational performance

Answer: (D)

Data-based decision making is central to how ARD committees determine eligibility. The committee gathers information from multiple sources—formal assessments, progress monitoring, classroom observations, and input from parents and teachers, plus any relevant health or psychological information—and uses this evidence to decide whether the student has a disability and whether that disability affects educational performance enough to require special education services. Relying on a single source, like a medical diagnosis or one test result, can’t reliably establish eligibility because it doesn’t show how the disability impacts learning in the school setting. By combining data from several sources, the committee can determine the actual educational impact and whether specially designed instruction is needed.