Understanding Assessment in the Special Education Process

Roger Pierangelo is an associate professor in the Department of Special Education and Literacy at Long Island University. He has been an administrator of special education programs and served for eighteen years as a permanent member of Committees on Special Education. He has over thirty years of experience in the public school system as a general education classroom teacher and school psychologist, and is a consultant to numerous private and public schools, PTAs, and SEPTA groups. Pierangelo has also been an evaluator for the New York State Office of Vocational and Rehabilitative Services and a director of a private clinic. He is a New York State licensed clinical psychologist, certified school psychologist, and a Board Certified Diplomate Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychology and Forensic Psychology. Pierangelo is currently president of The National Association of Special Education Teachers, executive director of The American Academy of Special Education Professionals, and vice-president of The National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education. Pierangelo earned his BS degree from St. John′s University, his MS from Queens College, Professional Diploma from Queens College, PhD from Yeshiva University, and Diplomate Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychology and Forensic Psychology from the International College of Professional Psychology. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, New York State Psychological Association, Nassau County Psychological Association, New York State Union of Teachers, and Phi Delta Kappa. Pierangelo is the coauthor of numerous books, including The Big Book of Special Education Resources and The Step-by-Step Book Series for Special Educators. George Giuliani is an assistant professor at Hofstra University′s School of Education and Allied Health and Human Services, in the Department of Counseling, Research, Special Education, and Rehabilitation. He is the executive director of the National Association of Special Education Professionals, president of the National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education (NAPCSE), vice-president of the National Association of Special Education Teachers, and an educational consultant for various school districts. He has provided numerous workshops for parents and teachers on a variety of special education and psychological topics. Giuliani earned Board Certification as a Diplomate Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychology and Forensic Psychology from the International College of Professional Psychology. Giuliani is also a New York State licensed psychologist, certified school psychologist, and has an extensive private practice focusing on children with special needs. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, New York State Psychological Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, Suffolk County Psychological Association, Psi Chi, American Association of University Professors, and the Council for Exceptional Children. Giuliani earned his BA from the College of the Holy Cross, MS from St. John′s University, JD from City University Law School, and PsyD from Rutgers University, The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. Giuliani is the coauthor of numerous books, including The Big Book of Special Education Resources and The Step-by-Step Book Series for Special Educators.

About the Authors
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Step I. Understanding Assessment and Special Education Assessment
Importance of Assessment
Purpose of Assessment
The Difference Between Testing and Assessment
Role of the Education Professional in the Special Education Process
Assessment and Federal Law
Step II. Understanding and Identifying Students Who Might Exhibit a Disability
Understand the Meaning of a "High Risk" Student
High Risk Students: Determine the Severity of the Problem
Understand How Tension Affects High Risk Students
Become Familiar With Common Avoidance Behavior Patterns Exhibited By High Risk Students
Conclusions
Step III. Understanding and Making a Referral to the Child Study Team
Understand Your Role in the Referral Process
Learn About the Membership of the CST
Understand What Takes Place at the CST Meeting
Learn About the Various Sources of Information Available on Your Student
Understand the Options of the CST
Conclusions
Step IV. Understanding and Obtaining Parental Informed Consent for Assessment
Step V. Understanding the Requirements of an Evaluation for a Suspected Disability
Step VI. Understanding the MDT and the Comprehensive Assessment
Understand the Responsibilities of the Team Assigned to Do the Comprehensive Assessment: The Multidisciplinary Team
Understand the Membership of the MDT
Step VII. Understanding the Various Methods of Assessment Options Available to the MDT
What Is a Comprehensive Assessment?
What Is Norm-Referenced Testing?
Primary Areas of Assessment
Conclusions
Step VIII. Understanding Basic Statistics and Scoring Terminology Used in Assessment
Age Equivalent
Alternate Forms Reliability
Concurrent Validity
Construct Validity
Content Validity
Correlation
Criterion-Related Validity
Grade Equivalent
Interrater Reliability
Mean
Median
Mode
Range
Percentile Rank
Predictive Validity
Raw Scores
Reliability
Reliability Coefficients
Scaled Scores
Split-Half Reliability or Internal Consistency
Standard Deviation
Standard Error of Measurement
Standard Scores
Stanine
Test-Retest Reliability
T Scores
Validity
z Scores
Conclusions
Step IX. Understanding Students′ Behavior During the Assessment Process
Understand the Possible Effects of Examiner Variables
Understand How to Observe Overt Signs of Tension
Understand Behaviors That Are Observed . . .
Understand Behaviors That Provide Insight Into the Student′s Organizational Abilities During the Assessment Process
Conclusions
Step X. Understanding the Components of a Professional Evaluation Report
Practical Guidelines for Writing a Professional Evaluation Report
Understand the Components of the Report
Step XI. Understanding What Is Required for a Presentation to the IEP Committee
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary
References and Suggested Readings
Index