Assessments

Assessments are used in educational settings to evaluate whether students have the knowledge and skills deemed important for them. Assessments may take many forms, from large-scale national, state, and districtwide assessments, to classroom assessments.

Educational assessments may serve several purposes. Some focus on accountability for the system, educators, or students. Others focus on instructional decision making.

Most students with disabilities, including those who are dually identified as English learners, will participate in the same general assessments as their peers. Some students with disabilities may participate in alternate assessments based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS). Additionally, for the population of students with disabilities who are also English learners, participation includes assessments of English language proficiency (ELP). This involves either general ELP assessments or alternate ELP assessments.

It is important to develop these assessments with a universal design process and other accessibility and accommodation considerations in mind. Doing so will ensure valid assessment results for all students, particularly for students with disabilities.