The manual offers suggestions regarding the assessment process for handicapped children. Seven chapters address the following topics: the assessment process (a decisionmaking model); the referral process; planning for an individual assessment (formal and informal processes); determining eligibility (the presence or absence of a disability, an educational need); individualized education plan (IEP) assessment (modification of materials and personnel, suggestions for type and level of IEP assessment); actions following the initial assessment (translating assessment data into decisions, annual review, re-evaluation); special assessment issues (general guidelines for special assessment problems and assessment of multiply handicapped, bilingual, and secondary-aged students); and personnel roles in the assessment process. (CL)