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Why should my child be tested?
Testing will provide a clear picture of how your child is performing
over time, in a variety of settings, with different people, and in a
variety of circumstances.
Do I, as
the parent, have any say whether or not my child is tested?
Yes! A parent's consent must
be obtained in writing before any assessments take place.
Who is involved testing?
Only qualified personnel are allowed to administer the tests. This
may include: the teacher, school psychologist, speech-language
pathologist, and others professionals depending on the areas your child
is being tested.
What does the assessment consist of?
Evaluating your child
will be a process. This process includes collecting information
about your child. Information should be collected through a number
of sources including:
- A review of records:
looking at your child's history will give professionals a feel for how
your child has developed over time. Records that may
be reviewed include:
- Health and developmental history
- Results of hearing and vision tests
- Educational history and prior placements
- Report cards and group test reports
- Attendance and discipline records
- Any diversity issues (e.g. primary
language, culture)
- Information from any professionals who
have worked with your child privately
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- Interviews:
You (the parent), your child, and your child's educators will provide
information to the evaluators. This will come from structured
interviews where you (or others) may be asked to use a rating scale to
compare your child to other children their age. Also, informal
interviews may be used to discuss the child's strengths and needs.
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- Observations:
formal observations may be made in the classroom, during recess, and
while the child is taking a test.
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- Testing:
different formal and informal tests will determine your child's
strengths and needs.
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What is the end
result for my child? How are the results used?
After the process of
evaluations is complete, you and your child's teacher(s) should have a
better understanding of your child as a learner and a person. The
results should help you see your child's strengths and if they have any
needs. Hopefully, the results lead to recommendations on how to
help your child improve their learning at school and at home. In
some cases, the results may determine if special education is needed.
What are the
different types of assessments used to assess my child?
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Type of
Assessment |
Purpose |
When is this
assessment used? |
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Ecological Assessment |
To determine classroom
environmental influences or contributions to learning |
Anytime students
appear to have learning or behavioral difficulties |
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Norm-Referenced Test |
To compare a specific
student's ability with that of same-age students in national
sample |
When achievement or
ability needs to be assessed for initial, annual, or triennial
(every 3 years) evaluations |
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Standardized Test |
Test given with
specific instructions and procedures, often are norm-referenced
also |
When achievement or
ability needs to be assessed for initial, annual, or triennial
(every 3 years) evaluations |
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Error Analysis |
To determine a pattern
of errors or specific type of errors |
Can be used daily or
on any type of assessment at any time |
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Curriculum-Based
Assessment |
To determine how a
student is performing using actual content of curriculum |
To measure mastery of
curriculum (e.g. chapter tests) |
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