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NCEO Brief: Five Formative Assessment Strategies to Improve Distance Learning Outcomes for Students with Disabilities (#20)The purpose of this Brief is to describe the use of formative assessment processes with students with disabilities during distance learning. Formative assessment is important for all kinds of learning, and especially focuses students on learning and evidence of learning. This Brief presents five strategies that can be used to support student understanding of their own learning. This has the potential to be a powerful antidote to the “check-box” approach some students may bring to online learning where they focus on compliance with following directions and completing a list of assignments.
Published: May 2020
NCEO Newsletter: October 2015 issueFormats: OnlineAn issue providing a link to the new NCEO Web site, with many new topics and lots of new information, plus summaries of, and links to, several new NCEO products. Among them is the report on the National Conference on Student Assessment pre-conference forum, titled Implementing Accessibility Frameworks for ALL Students, which focuses on the challenges and opportunities of the new context of many new assessments. This issue also highlights the results from the 2014 Survey of States, a report on graduation policies for students with disabilities who participate instates' general assessments, and the latest Data Analytics report on public reporting of state assessment data on students with disabilities.
Published: October 2015
NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2008-2009 APR Snapshot #2: Assessment Accommodations Use by Special Education Students (#2)Formats: OnlineThis year 2012 report provides information on the number of students with disabilities using accommodations on statewide reading and math assessments used for federal accountability purposes. Using federally submitted data from the 2008-2009 school year, the authors present information on accommodations for reading and mathematics statewide assessments administered to grade 8 students (and grade 4 to show a comparison to grade 8 data).
Published: January 2012
NCEO Synthesis Reports: A Brief History of Alternate Assessments Based on Alternate Achievement Standards (#68)A 2008 report reviewing the previous 15 years of alternate assessment development, from the early 1990s through the mid-2000s, as reported by state directors of special education on the Institute's National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) state surveys, and augmented by other research and policy reports published by NCEO and related organizations during that timeframe. This is a resource for state and federal policymakers and staff, researchers, test companies, and the public and it helps explain the evolution of alternate assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Published: September 2008
NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Large-Scale Assessments and English Language Learners with Disabilities - A Case Study of Participation, Performance, and Perceptions: "Walking the Talk!" (#15)This year 2006 report describes issues that surround the inclusion of English learners in states' large-scale assessment systems with a focus on gathering practical information at the local school level to reflect a variety of perspectives.
Published: August 2006
NCEO Limited English Proficiency Projects Reports: Connecting English Language Proficiency, Statewide Assessments, and Classroom Proficiency (#5)This year 2004 report presents information on the link between academic language, language proficiency tests, and performance on standardized assessments for ELs in grades 3, 5 and 11. Measures in the study included two language proficiency measures, teacher ratings of classroom samples, and two state achievement tests.
Published: August 2004
NCEO Synthesis Reports: Washington Alternate Assessment System Technical Report on Standard Setting for the 2002 Portfolio (#52)This year 2003 report presents information on Washington's standard setting procedure for its portfolio alternate assessment for students with significant disabilities. It also gives information on the perception of the standard setting panel regarding the decisions that were made, thereby providing documentation and validation of the standard setting process to establish alternate academic achievement standards for this population.
Published: October 2003
NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Testing Students Out of Level in Large-Scale Assessments: What States Perceive and Believe (#5)Formats: OnlineThis year 2001 report describes a study conducted to address the differing opinions, perceptions, and practices involved in testing students out of level in large-scale assessment programs. It focuses on state- level perspectives among those 12 states that allow testing of students with disabilities out-of-level.
Published: March 2001- NCEO Newsletter: February 2026 issueFormats: Online
This February issue of NCEO’s newsletter focuses on two new resources, a timely past product, and a popular section of our website. The new resources are NCEO’s 17th Survey of States where NCEO surveyed state special education and assessment directors to identify trends and issues in statewide assessment of students with disabilities, and the proceedings from the NCEO forum held at the National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA) on Assistive Technology, Alternate and Augmentative Communication, and Artificial Intelligence. As states enter testing season, we share a popular brief that provides quick access to information on what school leaders need to do before, during, and after the assessment window. Finally, we feature our State Policies Webpage, your centralized hub for locating state assessment manuals and other state accessibility information.
Published: February 2026 - NCEO Reports: State Requirements for Test Administrators, Proctors, and Accommodations Providers Who Administer Tests to Students with Disabilities, English Learners, and English Learners with Disabilities (#437)
To help ensure that assessments are properly administered, states have developed policies about who can administer or proctor assessments, and the training they must have. This report presents the findings of our analysis of states’ 2021 policies on the qualifications and requirements for test administrators, proctors, and accommodations providers for general state summative content assessments (e.g., math, language arts, science), specifically as they relate to students with disabilities, English learners, and English learners with disabilities. The individuals who administer or proctor assessments, as well as those who provide accommodations (e.g., scribes, test readers, sign language interpreters, translators), need to be qualified and knowledgeable about how to appropriately administer assessments and how to provide accommodations.
Published: 11/16/2022 
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
Audio Support Guidelines for Accessible Assessments: Insights From Cognitive LabsFormats: PDFA report examining how some students, including students with print disabilities, students with low vision, and English language learners, may benefit from having test content read aloud. However, there have been challenges in standardizing the presentation of test content, including whether or not to read answer choices or to describe maps and cartoons, among many other issues. Technology-enhanced assessment offers the opportunity to provide standardized audio support delivered through the test platform. One goal of the Guidelines for Accessible Assessment Project (GAAP) was to develop a set of audio guidelines that could be used across states. Overall, the findings from the cognitive labs support the need for taking an individualized approach in providing audio support for assessments.
Published: December 2014
NCEO Technical Reports: Improving Validity of Large-Scale Tests: Universal Design and Student Performance (#37)This year 2003 report presents the theoretical background and research results of an experimental study conducted using universally designed assessment features. A sample of 231 sixth graders from underperforming schools participated in two versions of a large scale assessment in randomized order. Students took both the traditionally designed version, and a second version that measured the same constructs as the first but with features of Universal Design elements. Results showed significant increases in performance for students taking the universally designed form of the assessment, and this was confirmed by student perceptions in post-test interviews on their performance and preference for assessment format with the features. Findings have implications for students with disabilities and English Learners.
Published: December 2003
NCEO State Surveys: 1997 State Special Education Outcomes: A Report on State Activities During Educational ReformFormats: PDFThis report presents the results of the sixth survey of state activities in the assessment of educational outcomes for students with disabilities conducted by NCEO since 1991. NCEO sent the survey to directors of special education of all the 50 regular states and the 10 unique states that provide special education under the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Results are presented in seven sections: (1) Students with disabilities and standards-based reform, (2) Measuring the participation of students with disabilities in statewide testing, (3) state activities in developing alternate assessments, (4) Using assessment results for students with disabilities, (5) Individualized Educational Programs and assessments, (6) Measuring non-academic outcomes for students with disabilities, and (7) Current issues and technical assistance needs.
Published: November 1997- Test SecurityFormats: Online
This page provides information on test security for assessments.
Published: 2021-02-01 
Evidence Base on Assessment Accommodations for English LearnersFormats: PDFThis brief summarizes the findings of a 2010-2018 literature review on assessment accommodations conducted by the Improving Instruction for English Learners through Improved Accessibility Decisions project. The complete literature review titled “A Summary of the Research on Test Accommodations for English Learners and English Learners with Disabilities 2010-2018” includes the full list of 11 included studies.
Published: July 2020
TARA Reports: Field-based Perspectives on Technology Assisted Reading Assessments: Results of an Interview Study with Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVIs)Formats: PDFThe purpose of this study was to gather information to inform the design and development of a technology-assisted reading assessment for students with visual impairments or blindness.
Published: August 2009- NCEO Data Analytics: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students with IEPs, 2020-2021 (#19)Formats: Online
This interactive report presents data on 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 from the 2020-2021 school year, this report presents information on participation and performance in reading and mathematics statewide assessments. This report also includes state profiles for students with disabilities’ participation rates and performance. Due to disruptions from the pandemic, rates of participation varied widely throughout the country. Data for this school year may not be comparable with other years.
Published: January 2024 - NCEO Newsletter: June 2022 issueFormats: Online
This issue highlights several new products available from NCEO including the updated guide to universally designed assessments, an analysis of how states include students with disabilities in test security policies, and the findings of a survey on how states monitor alternate assessment participation decisions. There is also an article about two resources that address the role of related service providers in making accessibility and accommodations decisions. This issue includes a summary of all the sessions in which NCEO is participating during the National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA). Finally, there is an article on the forum that follows NCSA on assistive technology interoperability with online assessment platforms, and other technology and services.
Published: 6/1/2022 - NCEO Reports: The 95 Percent State Assessment Participation Requirement: Current Landscape, State Challenges, and Recommended Strategies (#429)
This report provides an overview of federal statutory language on student participation in state summative assessments used for accountability as well as the participation requirements for states requesting waivers from the 1% threshold on participation in the alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS). It also includes a review of why it is important that students participate in testing, the reasons why some states have found it challenging to meet the 95% participation rate, and the extent to which states have met federal testing participation requirements.
Published: 9/30/2021