Historically, psychological tests were assumed to be objective, culture-free, and generalizable to any racial/ethnic minorities or socio-cultural group, even though most tests were standardized, validated, and found reliable with samples consisting only of White, middle-class, English- speaking individuals (The Council of National Psychology…

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) strives to provide every student with a positive and productive assessment experience, generating results that are a fair and accurate estimate of each student's achievement. Further, Smarter Balanced is building on a framework of accessibility for all students, including English…

This report is an update of the assessment principles and guidelines for English language learners published in 2013 (Thurlow, Liu, Ward, & Christensen). That report, which was developed by the Improving the Validity of Assessment Results for English Language Learners with Disabilities (IVARED) project, presented essential principles of…

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) strives to provide every student with a positive and productive assessment experience, generating results that are a fair and accurate estimate of each student's achievement. Further, Smarter Balanced is building on a framework of accessibility for all students, including English…

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) strives to provide every student with a positive and productive assessment experience, generating results that are a fair and accurate estimate of each student's achievement. Further, Smarter Balanced is building on a framework of accessibility for all students, including English…

The Improving the Validity of Assessment Results for English Language Learners with Disabilities (IVARED) project has identified essential principles of inclusive and valid assessments for English language learners (ELLs) with disabilities. These principles were developed from a Delphi expert review process with nationally recognized experts in…

English language learners (ELLs) with disabilities are an increasing presence in schools in the United States. Title I and Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act require that these students meet the same academic grade-level standards and participate in content assessments as their fluent-English speaking peers without…

The paper provides a framework for a nonbiased placement system for students with suspected handicapping conditions. The suggested approach is designed to help school districts determine whether the appraisal system is contributing to the disproportionate placement of minority group students in special education classes. Nineteen steps in the…

The three volumes outline Alaska's procedures for implementing individualized education programs (IEPs) and for providing nonbiased assessment of exceptional students. The first two volumes deal with IEPs and include sections on initial identification, referral, multidisciplinary assessment, IEP development/placement, IEP review and reevaluation,…

This article provides an overview of identification of appropriate testing accommodations for students with learning disabilities (LD). First it defines the concept of testing accommodations and review research on test accommodations commonly used with students with LD. Next it examines the validity and fairness in accommodations, as well as the…

Proceedings from the September 1985 hearing focus on the implementation of P.L. 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, as it relates to learning handicapped delinquents in the District of Columbia (D.C.). Statements are presented from officials of the general accounting office, D.C. public school officials, administrators of D.C.…

Discusses the purposes of student grades, including those driven by Individualized Education Programs. Grading options to ensure objectivity, fairness, and accountability for students with diverse needs are suggested. Types of tests available and possible adaptations are described. School districts are urged to create a grading policy that is…

This guide presents a series of check lists to help teachers and counselors provide nonbiased assessment for referred children, particularly those who are culturally different. The first section deals with evaluating the legitimacy of the referral and considers whether parents have been properly notified. The second section, meeting the child,…

In order to provide special education programs that are responsive to the needs of Navajo students and in order to comply with the Rules and Regulations of Public Law 94-142 (The Education for All Handicapped Children Act) and Public Law 95-561 (Education Amendments of 1978), the information in this handbook provides guidance to teachers and…

Various testing methods have been developed to assess the intellectual functioning of children with learning disabilities, but testing is only one tool in the comprehensive process of assessment. The alternatives to relying exclusively on intelligence testing include ability tests, individual education plans, and beginning the teaching/programing…