Which of the following is the first step in the identification process of a young student with a disability?

• A. Documenting efforts to use interventions with the student
• B. Developing a behavior intervention plan
• C. Requesting an aide to work with the student
• D. Suggesting that the parents take the student to a pediatrician

Answer: (A)

In identifying whether a young student has a disability, the process begins with gathering data on how the child responds to high-quality instruction and targeted interventions. Documenting the efforts to use interventions provides concrete, objective evidence of whether the child is making adequate progress or not. If the child struggles despite these supports, that data justifies moving on to a comprehensive evaluation for potential disability.

The other options don’t fit the initial step: a behavior plan is a response to ongoing behavior concerns and comes after identified needs, not at the start of identification; requesting an aide is about resources or supports in the classroom, not the identification decision; and asking parents to take the child to a pediatrician is not how the school initiates the identification process.