It is a really hard situation for families . . . it is good that you are aware that there is a concern though - having supportive parents is a BIG help to a child with a learning disability.

I assume the form you signed was for some testing to be done with the school Guidance Officer. GOs are also psychologists and will probably perform a range of tests including IQ, a questionaire that you, the class teacher and possibly GP will need to fill out, and anything else that seems necessary from issues raised with the GO by you or the teacher. They will have a look back over your DD's classwork and test results to see if any pattern is emerging. If the forms you signed weren't for an assessment with a GO or school psychologist, I would strongly suggest that you insist on one.

The GO looks for all sorts of different factors that could be contributing to your DD's apparent learning difficulties such as auditary processing (whether she is understanding the words being spoken to her), memory, comprehension etc. They will probably also look at social skills and how she is interacting with her peers and adults to check that these interactions are appropriate to rule out things like ASD.

After the psychologist has done an assessment, sometimes the info is sent back to your GP with a recommendation (as GPs need to be the diagnosing party for some things) and sometimes a psychologist can diagnose without going any further based on the results of the assessment they conduct. They will also try to establish the level of diagnosis - mild to severe (though usually done on a numbering system - it will be explained to you if it is necessary).

Once all this is done, if you DD is ascertained as having a learning disability a management plan will be put together. In Queensland state schools this is called and Individual Education Plan (IEP). You will be invited to a meeting with a special education teacher, your DD's classroom teacher, the GO, and any other stake holders that seem necessary to be there.

You all work together on making attainable goals for your DD as far as learning, socialising and any other area of development that comes out as being of concern (if she is having difficulty physically with anything this will be included).

Your DD should be assigned a Special Education teacher who will work with her classroom teacher and do some individual or small group activities with your DD in areas that need attention. They will be the main person, along with the classroom teacher, who will be responsible for your DD's IEP.

Having an assessment of learning disabilities is so much easier done in primary school - so the timing is great. At high school, if you DD receives a diagnosis, a similar procedure will be followed. High schools tend to shut parents out a bit more than primary schools (I don't want to scare you but you need to be aware) so you may have to fight harder to be apart of everything. I would also recommend that you find a small high school with a good reputation with small class sizes. She won't be so lost in the crowd then.

I don't know if this is the sort of info that you are after but that is the process in Qld schools and I think in most places it will be fairly similar. I could give you some specific advice on managing a learning disability, but there is such a vast range of issues that the best thing to do is wait till the assessments come back. The GO will be able to tell you the sorts of things you can do at home with DD that will help her out.

Anyway, I hope that helps and good luck with everything