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NCEO Framework for Educational Accountability: Post-School OutcomesFormats: PDFThis 1998 document extends the NCEO Framework for Educational Accountability, focusing on outcomes and indicators for the post-school individual, and examines the relationship between these outcomes and indicators and the SCANS Skills & Competencies. How to adopt or adapt the framework for system-wide or individual accountability is explained.
Published: October 1998- NCEO Newsletter: October 2022 issueFormats: Online
This issue highlights several new NCEO activities and products. The first is a toolkit for new state special education directors that is designed to be easy to use and help new directors (and their staff) become experts on how to include students with disabilities in assessments. Next is NCEO’s presence on TikTok. There is also recently published proceedings of the forum on assistive technology interoperability with online assessment platforms and other technology and services. Additionally, there is an article about a recent scan of the national landscape of formative assessment definitions and how students with disabilities are included in them, as well as articles about NCEO presentations at the recent National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) conference and at the upcoming Conference on Test Security (COTS).
Published: 10/3/2022 - NCEO Newsletter: February 2022 issueFormats: Online
This issue highlights (1) information about a participation communication toolkit that NCEO recently released with customizable resources, sample social media posts, and other resources that can be used when communicating about why it is important for students to participate in state tests; (2) a new series for school leaders on including students with disabilities in assessments; (3) two new resources on the assessment of English learners with disabilities; (4) a new publication about including deaf students in assessments; (5) an article that several NCEO staff wrote for the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) on ensuring students with disabilities leave school ready to succeed; and (6) information on sessions on upcoming conferences that include NCEO staff.
Published: February 2022 
NCEO Newsletter: June 2018 issueFormats: OnlineIn this issue, we highlight several upcoming events, plus a couple of new reports available from NCEO. First, the upcoming pre-conference session to the National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA) in June in San Diego. The pre-conference session will focus on the use of speech-to-text. Following that is a listing of the sessions in which NCEO staff are participating during the NCSA conference, as well as at the International Test Commission Conference in Montreal at the beginning of July. Also highlighted in this issue are two new reports.
Published: June 2018
NCEO Technical Reports: Good News and Bad News in Disaggregated Subgroup Reporting to the Public on 2005-2006 Assessment Results (#52)A report analyzing the public reporting of disaggregated data for students with disabilities by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). This analysis, which is the 10th done by NCEO, is for school year 2005/2006 and it marks the fourth data cycle from the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. On this tenth anniversary, NCEO presents both the good news and bad news for 2005/2006 reporting and summarizes other observed trends.
Published: December 2008
NCEO Reports: Principios y Características de Sistemas Inclusivos de Evaluación en un Escenario de Evaluación Cambiante (#400 Spanish)This document is a Spanish translation of the fourth in a series of Principles documents produced by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). NCEO revisited and revised its 2008 Principles for inclusive assessment systems to respond to the many changes in the current educational assessment context. The revised Principles reflect a broader perspective that acknowledges that the Principles should apply not only for students with disabilities but also for English learners (ELs) and ELs with disabilities, as well as to all types of assessments in assessment systems. Similar to previous documents, it is designed to identify the principles and characteristics of inclusive assessment systems. Content is in Spanish.
Published: January 2016- NCEO Newsletter: June 2021 issueFormats: Online
In this issue, we highlight several new resources on using interim assessments to measure what students with disabilities know and can do. We also provide information on NCEO presentations at upcoming conferences, describe new reports, and new videos for parents of students with significant cognitive disabilities. Information is also provided about a project where NCEO is working as the accessibility lead.
Published: 2021-05-30 - NCEO Reports: A Historical Review of Alternate Assessment and 1% Cap (#450)Formats: Online
The history of alternate assessments and the 1.0 percent participation cap on state-level participation rates is deeply rooted in federal education legislation. From 1994 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. We provide a list of resources, many of which were developed by NCEO, that can help educators implement the federal requirements of the 1.0 percent cap rule.
Published: October 2025 - Accommodations Toolkit: Clarify/Simplify/Repeat Directions: ResearchFormats: Online
This fact sheet on clarify/simplify/repeat directions is part of the Accommodations Toolkit published by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). It summarizes information and research findings on the use of clarify/simplify/repeat directions as an accessibility feature or accommodation.
Published: 12/14/2021 - NCEO Reports: The Development of Common Terminology (Updated Edition): Adding Accessibility Features to the Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) (#447)Formats: PDF
The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) collaborated with the Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) initiative to standardize accessibility feature terms for assessments. Historically, terminology varied, so NCEO and the CEDS initiative worked with state education agencies, test vendors, and assessment consortia to create common definitions. This effort aimed to improve communication and ensure equitable assessment opportunities for students, particularly for students with disabilities, English learners, and English learners with disabilities. Once finalized, the definitions were submitted to the CEDS initiative for inclusion in their data elements. This report presents the final list of standardized accessibility feature definitions.
Published: March 2025 - NCEO Reports: State Discussion Guide for Communicating SSIP Data with Stakeholders (#452)Formats: Online
Federal law requires states to engage stakeholders in the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), especially for the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP). A communication plan is a crucial tool for this process, helping teams effectively share data and information. NCEO facilitated a Peer Learning Group with 58 participants from 26 states to collaboratively develop a planning guide, ensuring messaging is accessible and meaningful, fostering transparency and trust. Teams can use this guide to create targeted strategies for different audiences and we include a sample SSIP Data Communication Plan that teams can use.
Published: September 2025 - NCEO Reports: How Students Who Take the AA-AAAS Are Included in State Systemic Improvement Plans (SSIP): An Analysis of FFY 2021 SSIPs (#449)
This report presents the findings of an analysis of states’ FFY 2021 State Systemic Improvement Plans (SSIPs) that examined how students who participate in the alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS) were included in State-identified Measurable Results (SiMRs) related to student performance. Students who take the AA-AAAS have the most significant cognitive disabilities. This analysis revealed significant gaps in how students who take the AA-AAAS were included in these improvement efforts.
Published: April 2025 - NCEO Reports: Updated State Discussion Guide: Communicating Assessment Data to Empower SSIP Stakeholders (#448)
The purpose of this discussion guide is to support SEAs and local education agencies (LEAs) in states with assessment-related State-Identified Measurable Results (SiMRs) in communicating assessment data in ways that are useful to stakeholders, and in improving data literacy among stakeholders so they can meaningfully participate in key State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) improvement efforts. States are required to develop and implement an SSIP, which is a multi-year plan designed to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, and to commit to a SiMR focused on student outcomes. The guide is organized around five steps that SEAs can take to better communicate data to stakeholders involved in the SSIP process.
Published: April 2025 
1% Toolkit: Frequently Asked Questions on AA-AAAS (NCEO Tool #5)The 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) 1.0% cap on state-level participation rates in the alternate assessment aligned to alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS) generated questions answered by the U.S. Department of Education in this Frequently Asked Questions on AA-AAAS. This FAQ tool includes questions that were asked by state personnel during the October 2018 1% Cap National Convening: Supporting States in Implementing ESSA’s 1% State-level Cap on Participation of Students in the AA-AAAS held in Boston, Massachusetts, during the NCEO 1% Community of Practice (CoP) and during NCEO’s Peer Learning Group 2 (PLG 2). The questions are listed in this tool by topic, and include the date the question was answered by the U.S. Department of Education.
Published: September 2019
NCEO Synthesis Reports: A Summary of the Research on the Effects of Test Accommodations, 2011-2012 (#94)A report providing an update on the state of the research on testing accommodations as well as to identify promising future areas of research. Previous reports by NCEO have covered research published since 1999. NCEO summarizes the research to review current research trends and enhance understanding of the implications of accommodations use in the development of future policy directions, implementation of current and new accommodations, and valid and reliable interpretations when accommodations are used in testing situations. For 2011 and 2012, 49 published research studies on the topic of testing accommodations were found. The studies in 2011-2012 demonstrated several similarities when viewing them in comparison with previous research, especially in relation to the 2009-2010 studies examined in NCEO's previous accommodations research review.
Published: September 2014- NCEO Data ViewerFormats: Online
An interactive database allowing users to access data compiled by researchers at the Institute's National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) on students with disabilities in the U.S. educational system. Two major databases are currently available:
• State policies on assessment participation and accommodations for students with disabilities.
• Annual performance reports from states and other education entities receiving Part B funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Through the database users may create customized reports - including charts and maps - based on criteria they choose.
Published: 2009 - Present - NCEO Brief: Cross-agency Collaboration to Improve Assessments and Outcomes for Students with Disabilities (#36)
This Brief focuses on collaboration between special education and assessment offices, but other offices (e.g., curriculum and instruction, accountability) may also need to be involved. The Brief describes the reasons for collaboration and its benefits, provides suggestions for who needs to be involved, and provides specific examples of successful collaboration.
Published: October 2024 
NCEO Newsletter: October 2013 issueFormats: OnlineAn issue highlighting findings from the 2012 survey of states, information on two new NCEO products--a tool that groups can use to build consensus on a topic, and a report covering current state policies on accommodations for delivering assessments orally. It also profiles an innovative online training for educators to improve decisions made about accommodations for individual students. Finally, this issue focuses on three manuals developed collaboratively by states, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and NCEO, and published by CCSSO, to help guide accommodations decision-making.
Published: October 2013- NCEO Newsletter: February 2021 issueFormats: Online
This issue highlights a new video series for parents of students with significant cognitive disabilities. The videos focus on various aspects of supporting the learning of their children at home. Currently available videos address routines at home, helping with academics at home, foundations of communications at home, and communications at home. This issue also highlights a new Brief that NCEO published on using pre-assessment to plan instruction for students with disabilities during distance education, as well as a review of the literature on literacy assessment and instruction practices for English learners with significant cognitive disabilities. Additionally, there is an article about eight tools which were developed with states that were members of several Peer Learning Groups (PLGs) organized by NCEO on topics related to addressing the 1% threshold on participation in alternate assessments based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS). Finally, we have a list of sessions that include NCEO staff who will be participating in the upcoming virtual Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Convention and Expo.
Published: February 2021 
NCEO Newsletter: June 2019 issueFormats: OnlineIn this issue, we highlight sessions in which NCEO will participate during the upcoming National Conference on Student Assessment in Orlando, Florida. We also highlight recent NCEO reports, including two that address expectations for students with disabilities—one a longer report that examines what we know in the context of policy, practice, and evidence from the implementation of reforms (Students with Disabilities in Educational Policy, Practice, and Professional Judgment: What Should We Expect?); and the second a brief that provides suggestions for policymakers, states, and technical assistance providers (Revising Expectations for Students with Disabilities). A new Data Analytics that provides national and state trends on students with disabilities and their categories of disability also is highlighted. A report that updates state graduation policies for students with disabilities concludes the NCEO reports highlighted in this issue. We conclude this issue by summarizing a new report from the DIAMOND Project, Additional Educators’ Perspectives on Classroom Implementation of Accessibility Features and Accommodations.
Published: June 2019