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 AuthorsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionStep I. Understanding Assessment and Special Education AssessmentImportance of AssessmentPurpose of AssessmentThe Difference Between Testing and AssessmentRole of the Education Professional in the Special Education ProcessAssessment and Federal LawStep II. Understanding and Identifying Students Who Might Exhibit a DisabilityUnderstand the Meaning of a "High Risk" StudentHigh Risk Students: Determine the Severity of the ProblemUnderstand How Tension Affects High Risk StudentsBecome Familiar With Common Avoidance Behavior Patterns Exhibited By High Risk StudentsConclusionsStep III. Understanding and Making a Referral to the Child Study TeamUnderstand Your Role in the Referral ProcessLearn About the Membership of the CSTUnderstand What Takes Place at the CST MeetingLearn About the Various Sources of Information Available on Your StudentUnderstand the Options of the CSTConclusionsStep IV. Understanding and Obtaining Parental Informed Consent for AssessmentStep V. Understanding the Requirements of an Evaluation for a Suspected DisabilityStep VI. Understanding the MDT and the Comprehensive AssessmentUnderstand the Responsibilities of the Team Assigned to Do the Comprehensive Assessment: The Multidisciplinary TeamUnderstand the Membership of the MDTStep VII. Understanding the Various Methods of Assessment Options Available to the MDTWhat Is a Comprehensive Assessment?What Is Norm-Referenced Testing?Primary Areas of AssessmentConclusionsStep VIII. Understanding Basic Statistics and Scoring Terminology Used in AssessmentAge EquivalentAlternate Forms ReliabilityConcurrent ValidityConstruct ValidityContent ValidityCorrelationCriterion-Related ValidityGrade EquivalentInterrater ReliabilityMeanMedianModeRangePercentile RankPredictive ValidityRaw ScoresReliabilityReliability CoefficientsScaled ScoresSplit-Half Reliability or Internal ConsistencyStandard DeviationStandard Error of MeasurementStandard ScoresStanineTest-Retest ReliabilityT ScoresValidityz ScoresConclusionsStep IX. Understanding Students′ Behavior During the Assessment ProcessUnderstand the Possible Effects of Examiner VariablesUnderstand How to Observe Overt Signs of TensionUnderstand Behaviors That Are Observed . . .Understand Behaviors That Provide Insight Into the Student′s Organizational Abilities During the Assessment ProcessConclusionsStep X. Understanding the Components of a Professional Evaluation ReportPractical Guidelines for Writing a Professional Evaluation ReportUnderstand the Components of the ReportStep XI. Understanding What Is Required for a Presentation to the IEP CommitteeConcluding ThoughtsGlossaryReferences and Suggested ReadingsIndex

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