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NARAP Reports: Defining Reading Proficiency for Accessible Large-Scale Assessments: Some Guiding Principles and IssuesFormats: PDFThe National Accessible Reading Assessment Projects (NARAP) is a collaboration of two projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education to conduct research and development on accessible reading assessments for students with disabilities that affect reading. One of NARAP's first tasks was to develop a definition of "reading proficiency." This paper is a synthesis of the information collected and describes a set of principles and key unresolved issues described under each principle.
Published: February 2006- Crosswalk of Title I and IDEA Assessment and Accountability Provisions for Students with DisabilitiesFormats: Online
This year 2001 Crosswalk of Title I and IDEA Assessment and Accountability Provisions for Students with Disabilities is a resource to help State and district staff understand these complementary laws and related guidance and regulations, specifically as they refer to students with disabilities in assessment and accountability systems. This "Crosswalk" was developed based on the 1994 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) known as Improving America's Schools Act and the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Published: February 2001 
NCEO Technical Reports: Assessment Accommodations Research: Considerations for Design and Analysis (#26)Formats: OnlineThis year 2000 report provides an overview of considerations for designing and analyzing research on assessment accommodations. It explains several group and single subject research designs as well as general analytic strategies such as item response theory, factor analysis, and criteria-related analysis. The report also provides a few recommendations for conducting research on accommodations.
Published: December 2000- NCEO Reports: The Role of Assessment Data in State Systemic Improvement Plans (SSIPs): An Analysis of FFY 2018 SSIPs (#425)
This report presents the findings of an analysis of states’ FFY 2018 State Systemic Improvement Plans (SSIPs), submitted to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in April 2020. It specifically addresses how assessments were included in states’ State-Identified Measurable Results (SIMRs). For states with assessment-related SIMRs, SSIP evaluation plans were also analyzed to see how assessments were being used for evaluation and reporting. The SSIPs for both regular states (e.g., Alabama, Wyoming, etc.) and unique states (e.g., Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, etc.) were analyzed. As part of OSEP’s new federal accountability framework, Results Driven Accountability (RDA), states are required to develop an SSIP, which is a comprehensive, multi-year plan designed to improve outcomes for children with disabilities, and within this plan, to commit to improving a SIMR focused on student outcomes. Many, but not all states, specified SIMRs that use assessment data as the outcome measure.
Published: February 2021 
A Summary of the Research on Test Accommodations for English Learners and English Learners with Disabilities: 2010-2018The purpose of this literature review is to examine the published English learner (EL) accommodations literature between 2010 and 2018 to provide an updated overview of research trends on this subject. Providing accommodations during assessments for students with disabilities has long been a standard requirement in federal education legislation. Providing assessment accommodations for English learners (ELs), on the other hand, is a newer requirement appearing only over the past few decades. As such, state assessment policies vary widely in terms of what accommodations are permitted for ELs on state assessments. Further, many of the allowable accommodations do not address students’ linguistic needs and there is not a large research base to document their effectiveness. In this review, the researchers examine the purpose of each study, the type of assessment measured, the content area assessed, the type of linguistic support accommodation examined, the characteristics of the research sample and the participants, the type of research design, the findings, and the author-identified limitations.
Published: 1/8/2020
NCEO Technical Reports: Tennessee Special Education Teacher Survey: Training, Large-scale Testing, and TCAP-MAAS Administration (#61)A report explaining how Tennessee developed an Alternate Assessment based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards called the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program-Modified Academic Achievement Standards (TCAP-MAAS), that was first administered in 2010. This report from the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) presents the results of a survey of Tennessee special education teachers regarding this assessment option. The authors sought to learn more about the teachers' perceptions of student experiences and outcomes with the TCAP-MAAS. They asked questions about how the teachers received training about this assessment, sought to measure the extent to which information about the new TCAP-MAAS had reached teachers across the state, and asked about accommodations selection and implementation for instruction and assessment. One section of the survey contained a knowledge quiz that was designed to assess teachers' knowledge of the TCAP-MAAS. The perceptions of teachers whose students took the TCAP-MAAS can provide insights into what is working well and where there were challenges.
Published: January 2012
NCEO Technical Reports: 2008-09 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELLs with Disabilities (#59)A report analyzing the public reporting of assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools in the United States; this is NCEO's 13th annual report on this subject. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) required states to disaggregate performance data at the state and district level. Although reporting practices for regular assessments have changed little for 2008-09 compared to the previous years, this year did mark the first time all 50 states reported disaggregated data for at least some state assessments in ESEA accountability systems. Although there were increased mean gaps between students with disabilities and regular students on regular assessments across all grades and content areas, the mean performance for students in both populations showed improvement in all grades and content areas. However, compared to students with disabilities, regular students showed larger mean gains compared to last year. Public reporting on English language learners (ELLs) with disabilities is also examined in this report.
Published: August 2011
PARA Accessible Reading Assessment Reports: Examining Differential Distractor Functioning in Reading Assessments for Students with DisabilitiesA report examining the incorrect response choices, or distractors, of students with disabilities in standardized reading assessments. Differential distractor functioning (DDF) analysis differs from differential item functioning (DIF) analysis, which treats all answers alike and examines all wrong answers against the correct answer. DDF analysis, in contrast, examines only the wrong answers. If different groups, such as students with disabilities and students without disabilities, preferred different incorrect responses to an item, then the item could mean something different to the different groups. The authors found items showing DDF for students with disabilities in grade 9, but not for grade 3. Results also suggest that items showing DDF were more likely to be located in the second half of the assessments rather than the first half. Additionally, results suggest that in items showing DDF, students with disabilities were less likely to choose the most common distractor than their non-disabled peers. Results of this study can shed light on potential factors affecting the accessibility of reading assessments for students with disabilities.
Published: January 2007- Using Formative Assessment Strategies During Hybrid and Distance EducationFormats: PDF
This presentation addressed using formative assessment strategies during hybrid and distance education. It was presented at the 2020 National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) annual conference.
Published: 2020-09-24 - Trends in Accommodations and Accessibility Features English Learners Received on Statewide AssessmentsFormats: PDF
This presentation addressed trends in accommodations and accessibility features received by English learners in statewide assessments. It was presented at the 2019 National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) annual conference.
Published: 2019-03-07 
NCEO Newsletter: June 2013 IssueFormats: OnlineAn e-newsletter issue highlighting the whirlwind of changes affecting assessments - the CCSS, the assessment consortia, shifting assessment policies, flexibility waivers, and more - and how they all relate to students with disabilities.
Published: June 2013- 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 - NCEO Reports: Updated Assessment Principles and Guidelines for English Learners with Disabilities (#424)
This updated report, originally published in 2013, presents five core principles of valid assessments for English learners with disabilities, along with a brief rationale and specific guidelines that reflect each principle. The principles were developed through a Delphi review involving experts in the fields of assessment, instruction of English learners, and special education. Appendices to this report describe the Delphi data collection process, and members of the expert panel. References and selected core resources related to each principle and guidelines are also included in an appendix. This update of the report recognizes the contextual changes that have occurred since 2013, but does not alter the principles themselves.
Published: August 2020 
NCEO Brief: Using Local Assessment Data to Measure Progress Toward the State-Identified Measurable Result (SIMR) (#14)The purpose of this Brief is to outline key strategies for the collection, analysis, and use of local assessment data to monitor progress toward the (State-Identified Measurable Result)SIMR. It provides information and suggestions for state education agencies and technical assistance providers who work with local education agencies (LEAs). It highlights six strategies, and then identifies several questions that states may want to consider if they choose to use local assessment data to measure progress toward their SIMRs.
Published: February 2018
NCEO Synthesis Reports: States' Participation Guidelines for Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards (AA-MAS) in 2008 (#71)A report describing an assessment option permitted by federal regulations that give states the flexibility to offer an alternate assessment based on modified academic achievement standards (AA-MAS). This assessment option is for a small group of students with disabilities who can make significant progress but may not reach grade-level proficiency within the time period covered by their Individualized Education Program. Students who participate in an AA-MAS must have access to grade-level content. States are not required to offer this option. This report compiles, analyzes, and summarizes states' participation guidelines for the AA-MAS.
Published: December 2008
NCEO Technical Reports: An Analysis of Accommodations Issues from the Standards and Assessments Peer Review (#51)A report commissioned by the Accommodations Monitoring Study Group of the Assessing Special Education Students State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards. It is the second in a three-part series providing information to states about the monitoring of accommodations to address the question of how states meet the NCLB requirement to routinely monitor the extent to which test accommodations are consistent with those provided during instruction, specifically for students with IEPs. This technical report provides a comprehensive analysis of the peer review guidance information and the methodology used in the research, as well as summarizing themes found across multiple peer reviews of state assessment systems. The first report in the series is Hints and Tips for Addressing Accommodations Issues for Peer Review.
Published: December 2008- English Learners with Disabilities Toolkit: Planning for the Accessibility Needs of an English Learner with a Disability Who Participates in State Alternate Assessments (Tool 7)Formats: PDF
This tool describes a planning process for determining the access needs of an individual student who is an English learner with a disability and will take state alternate assessments. It includes components of a sample accessibility plan for an English learner with a disability who participates in alternate assessments and a model of a completed plan. The sample accessibility plan is designed to supplement the IEP. States may customize this tool as needed to meet their needs.
Published: November 2024 - MIDAS Project Reports: Teachers’ Perspectives on Using Multiple Measures of Academic Achievement to Inform Instruction of Students on the Cusp Between the AA-AAAS and the General Assessment (#103)Formats: PDF
This report presents the findings of online focus groups conducted with teachers to learn more about their experiences using multiple measures to inform instructional decision making for students on the cusp between the alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS) and the general state assessment used for accountability.
Published: July 2024 - NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2018-2019 APR Snapshot #25: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students Receiving Special Education ServicesFormats: Online
This report provides a snapshot of the participation and performance of students receiving special education services in statewide assessments used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) accountability. Using federally submitted data for the 2018-19 school year, we present information on participation and performance in reading and mathematics statewide assessments administered to students in grades 3-8 and high school.
Published: October 2022 - NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2018-2019 APR Snapshot #26: Students in Special Education Assigned Assessment AccommodationsFormats: Online
This brief provides information on the number of students with disabilities assigned accommodations and the performance of these students on the general statewide assessment used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) accountability. Using federally submitted data from the 2018-2019 school year, we present information on accommodations for general reading and mathematics statewide assessments administered to grade 8 students (and grade 4 to show a comparison to grade 8 data).
Published: October 2022