The Core Evaluation Team (CET), as required by Massachusetts' special education law Chapter 766, is staffed to perform all the assessments necessary to develop a comprehensive individualized educational plan for the child with special needs. To assist in the assessment procedure, the Massachusetts Department of Education provides a guide which includes checklists for the following areas: motor development, activities of daily living, expressive and receptive language, reading, quantitative reasoning, and socialization. A review of the literature shows general agreement regarding the deficits of formal tests, particularly intelligence tests. As an alternative to using IQ tests as a basis for student placement, the Education Evaluation and Planning Package continues the performance statement checklist approach to assessment and provides the CET with the information necessary to develop individually appropriate education plans. (SB)