A rationale is presented for evaluation of effective educational practices for mildly handicapped students in all mainstreamed classes, followed by discussions of mainstreaming evaluations that have been conducted. Areas of relevant research are also presented. Finally, a model of an effective evaluation system is offered. (Author/KM)

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…

Students (N=147) referred for special education evaluation by curriculum-based and traditional methods were compared. Numbers referred through each method were similar. Academic achievement was almost the sole criterion in teacher referral and Ss referred through weekly achievement measurements were as likely as teacher referred Ss to demonstrate…

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…

Refined educational observation which allowed recognition of symptoms which were initial signs of a cerebral disease (Spielmeyer-Vogts disease) and which were corroborated by neurological and psychoneurological examination is recommended to replace diagnostic procedures utilizing standardized tests. (KW)

The bivariate normal distribution can be used to determine the prevalence of reading disabilities when the primary variables are reading achievement and IQ and when the correlation between reading and IQ is known or can be estimated. The advantages and diadvantages of the bivariate normal distribution are discussed. (Author/CL)

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)

A brief review of these tests is provided, and it is concluded that the procedures possess a number of characteristics that make the evaluation of change in intelligence a tenuous proposition. (Author)

Existing evidence on the Milwaukee Project, an early intervention effort with preschool disadvantaged children, suggests a decline of the experimental children to the level of the untreated controls in those measures, such as school reading, not under the control of the project. (DB)

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)