Federal and state policies require all students with significant cognitive disabilities to participate in state assessments and be included in measures of adequate yearly progress. Although these alternate assessments of grade-level content based on alternate achievement standards have been in place for several years, little is known about the…

This study examines the effects of two test modifications--resource guide and read-aloud--on the reading performance of students within the context of a large-scale statewide assessment in Georgia. Schools were both randomly selected and assigned to one of three possible test conditions: resource guide, read-aloud, or standard test condition.…

Students with significant disabilities must participate in large-scale assessments, often using an alternate assessment judged against alternate achievement standards. The development and administration of this type of assessment must necessarily balance meaningful participation with accurate measurement. In this study, generalizability theory is…

The authors report on a mixed-methods review of 24 studies that explores the predictive validity of dynamic assessment (DA). For 15 of the studies, they conducted quantitative analyses using Pearson's correlation coefficients. They descriptively examined the remaining studies to determine if their results were consistent with findings from the…

A comprehensive three-level program evaluation plan assesses overall impact of early intervention programs through assessment of children's progress toward developmental milestones; quarterly child progress through administration of a program-relevant, criterion-referenced tool; and weekly child progress toward specific instructional objectives by…

The paper describes a behavioral-ecological assessment system called AIMS (Assessment for Integration into Mainstream Settings) and presents the results of a comparative study of the responses of four Australian (N=179) and two U.S. (N=72) elementary teacher groups on two of the AIMS assessment instruments, the Social Behavior Standards Inventory…

Process assessment is offered as an alternative frame of reference for conducting psychoeducational assessment. The research base is presented, as well as a specific model that focuses assessment on the characteristics of the task, the child, and the setting, as well as the interactions among three factors. (Author/CL)

The meta analysis explored how measuring special education student progress toward long-term vs. short-term goals affects achievement outcomes. Results indicated that when progress toward long-term goals was measured, unbiased effect sizes were higher than on probelike outcomes; when progress toward short-term goals was measured, the reverse was…

Preliminary research suggests that the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) may be useful in identifying a variety of special needs in preschoolers, specific language disorders, and giftedness. Additional measures (such as measures of visual motor performance) may be appropriate in conjunction with the K-ABC. (CL)

The paper addresses teacher-judgement measures of pupil behaviors, aptitudes, and achievement levels. Analyses relating to reliability and validity of the measures are reviewed. Conclusions are drawn regarding psychometric properties of these judgment measures, suggestions regarding future research on the measures, and statements about their place…

The utility of the procedures special educators apply in making decisions about the identification of handicapped individuals has not been thoroughly studied. The paper examines the utility of diagnostic decision making from the perspective of receiver operating curve analysis. (Author)

The article considers the use of multiple baseline and multiple probe designs in special education research. Multiple baseline evaluation designs across behaviors, instructional strategies, situations, and individuals are discussed. Multiple probe design advantages, such as cost effectiveness and short duration, are examined. (PHR)

To produce a greater degree of consistency and reliability in diagnosis of handicapped children, a system called multidimensional actuarial classification is presented for differential diagnosis of mental retardation, inadequate adaptive behavior, social maladjustment, academic under and overachievement, and learning disabilities. (Author/CL)

A conceptual perspective and set of principles are offered for the evaluation of special service programs in public school settings. Special service program evaluation is seen as a process of obtaining and reporting information on a program's adequacy, process, efficiency, and impact. (Author)

Reviews alternative ways to establish goals for early intervention for children with disabilities, based on ecological theory. The ecological foundations of early intervention are discussed and an overview of sampling tactics and dimensions is presented. Recommendations are made for using planned activities for intervention design. (CR)