Chapter 1

Question 1

Definition of “assessment”

Answer 1

a process that involves collecting information about a student for the purpose of making decisions

Question 2

The purposes of assessment

Answer 2

• Evaluation decisions - information collected in the assessment process can provide detailed information of a student’s strengths, weaknesses, and overall progress
• Diagnostic decisions - information collected in the assessment process can provide detailed information of the specific nature of the student’s problems or disability
• Eligibility and diagnosis decisions - information collected in the assessment process can provide detailed information on whether a child is eligible for SPED services
• IEP development decisions - information collection in the assessment process can provide detailed information so that an IEP may be developed
• Educational placement decisions - information collected in the assessment process can provide detailed information so that appropriate decisions may be made about the child’s educational placement
• Instructional planning decisions - information collected in the assessment process is critical in planning instruction appropriate to the child’s special social, academic, physical, and management needs

Question 3

The nine steps in the assessment process

Answer 3

• Identification of children: child find > referral or request for evaluation
• Full and individual evaluation of the child by a multidisciplinary team
• Determination of eligibility for special education
• Scheduling an IEP meeting
• Holding the IEP meeting and then writing the IEP
• Providing special education and related services to the student
• Progress monitoring
• IEP is reviewed
• Child is reevaluated