In 2018 the IDOE put out a briefing on the importance of SDI, Specially Designed Instruction. In this article they described SDI as:
The individualized instruction provided to a student receiving special education services. In other words,
“What does a student need that special education can provide?”

• SDI is the instruction applied to address academic and functional deficits.
• SDI is instruction intended to close the academic gap between a student with a disability and peers.
• SDI is what makes special education “special.”

• In addition to core instruction (supplemental)
• A service or support
• What an educator/staff/school personnel does
• Teaching specific skills identified as learning barriers
• Important features of a program and/or unique instruction 
• Specific to the student (individualized)
• Maintaining high expectations and supporting students in the general education setting
• Promiting independence 
• Presumed competence 

• In place of core instruction (supplant)
• LRE placement 
• What a student does
• A restatement of the academic content standards being taught
• Naming a specific program that replaces a special education services
• Driven by programs or schedules 
• Lowering expectations and/or removing students from the general education setting
• Promoting dependence 
• Presumed incompetence 

Stepping into the world of SDI can be daunting! If you find yourself getting lost in all of the options and need a guide, reach out to us at Earlywood. Rachel Herron can help point you in the right direction, rherron@earlywood.org 

Together we can help you identify the right SDI to support your learner and elevate your practice to the next level!