ERIC Number: EJ682907
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Jun-1
Pages: 20
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0936-2835
EISSN: N/A
Using High-Stakes Tests to Derive School-Level Measures of Special Education Efficacy
Schulte, Ann C.; Villwock, Diane N.
Exceptionality, v12 n2 p107-126 Jun 2004
Many states now use large-scale testing programs as a major mechanism in their educational accountability efforts. With the mandated participation of students with disabilities in large-scale testing programs, it is possible to use large-scale testing results to examine special education efficacy at the school level. We used special and general education reading outcomes from 6 elementary schools in 1 school district to compare and contrast measures of a school's performance over time in serving children with disabilities. Three different methods were contrasted: (a) percentage of students in special education reaching grade-level proficiency in reading each year, (b) percentage of students in special education exceeding expected growth in reading each year, and (c) longitudinal growth and percentage of students reaching grade-level proficiency in 5th grade. We discuss the results in terms of deriving a measure of school special education performance that is both accurate and useful for school personnel.
Descriptors: Program Effectiveness, Disabilities, Testing, High Stakes Tests, Accountability, State Standards, Special Education, Reading Achievement, Achievement Gains, Instructional Effectiveness, Elementary School Students
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., Journal Subscription Department, 10 Industrial Avenue, Mahwah, NJ 07430-2262. Tel: 800-926-6579 (Toll Free); e-mail: journals@erlbaum.com.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

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