National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) focuses on the inclusion of students with disabilities, English learners, and English learners with disabilities in instruction and assessments. The scope of NCEO’s work includes issues related to accessibility of assessments across the comprehensive assessment system including formative assessment practices, classroom-based assessments, diagnostic assessments, interim assessments, and summative assessments.
See our About page for more on NCEO.
Latest News and Publications
2025 Survey of States: Trends and Issues in Statewide Assessment of Students with Disabilities
This report summarizes the seventeenth survey of states by NCEO, collecting over three decades of data on the participation and performance of students with disabilities in statewide assessments. Forty-five jurisdictions responded, revealing key trends in state practices. The survey confirms states are prioritizing training and monitoring to align assessment practices with federal requirements.
NCEO Newsletter: October 2025 issue
This October issue of NCEO’s newsletter focuses on renewal, celebrating 35 years of NCEO’s impact on special education assessment. Key updates include a new, more accessible web publications format, continued Technical Assistance for states, and the release of three new reports on alternate assessments and test accommodations.
A Historical Review of Alternate Assessment and 1% Cap (NCEO Report 450)
The history of alternate assessments and the 1.0 percent participation cap on state-level participation rates is deeply rooted in federal education legislation. From1994 to 2025, federal legislation, regulations, and Department of Education guidance to states aimed to ensure that all students, including those with the most significant cognitive disabilities, are included in state accountability systems while maintaining appropriate standards and oversight. This report traces this policy history and the ways in which states have responded through evolving practices, waivers, and compliance strategies.