Resources
Search Filters
Search Results
- Selected filters():
Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Parents or Guardians (Spanish translation)Formats: PDFThis Brief, translated into Spanish, answers questions about working with a language interpreter that parents or guardians of students who are English learners might have. Clear, comprehensible communication between parents and educators is key to making appropriate decisions about accessibility features and accommodations. This Brief was developed by NCEO’s “Improving Instruction for English Learners Through Improved Accessibility Decisions,” in collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Education.
Published: June 2020
Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Parents or Guardians (Traditional Chinese translation)Formats: PDFThis Brief, translated into Traditional Chinese, answers questions about working with a language interpreter that parents or guardians of students who are English learners might have. Clear, comprehensible communication between parents and educators is key to making appropriate decisions about accessibility features and accommodations. This Brief was developed by NCEO’s “Improving Instruction for English Learners Through Improved Accessibility Decisions,” in collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Education.
Published: June 2020
Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Parents or Guardians (Simplified Chinese translation)Formats: PDFThis Brief, translated into Simplified Chinese, answers questions about working with a language interpreter that parents or guardians of students who are English learners might have. Clear, comprehensible communication between parents and educators is key to making appropriate decisions about accessibility features and accommodations. This Brief was developed by NCEO’s “Improving Instruction for English Learners Through Improved Accessibility Decisions,” in collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Education.
Published: June 2020
Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Parents or Guardians (Arabic translation)Formats: PDFThis Brief, translated into Arabic, answers questions about working with a language interpreter that parents or guardians of students who are English learners might have. Clear, comprehensible communication between parents and educators is key to making appropriate decisions about accessibility features and accommodations. This Brief was developed by NCEO’s “Improving Instruction for English Learners Through Improved Accessibility Decisions,” in collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Education.
Published: June 2020
Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Parents or GuardiansThis Brief for parents or guardians of students who are English learners answers questions about working with a language interpreter. Clear, comprehensible communication between parents and educators is key to making appropriate decisions about accessibility features and accommodations. This Brief was developed by NCEO’s “ Improving Instruction for English Learners Through Improved Accessibility Decisions,” in collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Education.
Published: December 2019
Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for TeachersThis Brief for teachers answers questions about working with a language interpreter for families whose children are English learners. Clear, comprehensible communication between parents and educators is key to making appropriate decisions about accessibility features and accommodations. This Brief was developed by NCEO’s “ Improving Instruction for English Learners Through Improved Accessibility Decisions,” in collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Education.
Published: December 2019- NCEO Parent Fact Sheets: Engaging Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families (Fact Sheet #5 - Educator)
This Fact Sheet provides educators with strategies that will help them engage culturally and linguistically diverse families and their children. These strategies can help overcome the challenges of gaps in communication, cultural differences, culturally responsive teaching, and understanding home culture and individual students’ characteristics, including disability and English learner status. Additional strategies are provided for working with culturally and linguistically diverse families whose children have disabilities or are receiving English language development services.
Published: 9/21/2023 - NCEO Reports: The Formative Assessment Practices Landscape for Students with Disabilities: An Analysis of State Definitions and Practices, 2021 (#435)
This report outlines the approaches that state education agencies (SEAs) have taken in defining and using formative assessment practices, including practices to explicitly support students with disabilities. At the state level, there have been efforts to develop or adopt formal definitions of formative assessment practices that guide how these practices are used in instruction. Given the different approaches and definitions that might exist for formative assessment practices, this report aims to describe how states are communicating and supporting these practices with their districts and schools.
Published: May 2022 
NCEO Technical Reports: IEPs and Standards: What They Say for Students with Disabilities (#5)Formats: PDFThis year 1993 report presents a study comparing students' IEPs to national and locally defined standards for mathematics. The IEPs of 76 students with mild disabilities were compared to the National Assessment of Educational Progress proficiency levels for mathematics, local standards, and a taxonomy of dimensions including: Level of Mastery, Nature of the Material, and Operations. The report suggests a widening of the gap between what students with disabilities are taught and the assessments with which they are tested. Implications for actions by the special education and standards-setting communities are discussed.
Published: May 1993- 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 - TIES Center Briefs: Understanding the Role of Paraprofessionals in Your Child’s Education in Inclusive Classrooms (TIES Center Brief #7)
Paraprofessionals should be available to students with significant cognitive disabilities in the inclusive classroom. Depending on each student’s needs, paraprofessionals may provide supports, including supports for instruction, communication, or movement. The purpose of this Brief is to address what qualities, knowledge, and skills paraprofessionals must have; what paraprofessionals should be expected to do; and what supports paraprofessionals need for success. This Brief also provides examples of appropriate use of paraprofessionals in inclusive classrooms and some red flags that might indicate a need to adjust paraprofessional support or training.
Published: 11/1/2021 
PARA Accessible Reading Assessment Reports: Accessible Reading Assessments for Students with Disabilities: The Role of Cognitive, Grammatical, Lexical, and Textual/Visual FeaturesA study examining the characteristics of reading test items that may differentially impede the performance of students with disabilities. By examining the relationship between select item features and performance, the study seeks to inform strategies for increasing the accessibility of reading assessments for individuals from this group. The results of this study can help the assessment community in two ways. First, by elaborating on some test accessibility features, this report may serve as a guideline for those who are involved in test development and the instruction and assessment of students with disabilities. Second, and more importantly, this report provides methodology for examining other features that may have a major impact on assessment outcomes for students with disabilities.
Published: November 2010- NCEO Newsletter: October 2025 issueFormats: Online
This October issue of NCEO’s newsletter focuses on renewal, highlighting NCEO's 35-year history, commitment to innovation, and future partnerships. The article "35 Years of Impact" celebrates NCEO's three and a half decades as a national leader in assessment and outcomes for students with disabilities, noting our influence on policy and legislation. Our "New Web Publications" article details our move to an enhanced web-based format. This change significantly improves accessibility and adds user-friendly features. We also share "Technical Assistance Opportunities" for state education agencies (SEAs) seeking support to meet their assessment and outcomes goals. Finally, we feature three new NCEO reports (450–452) covering alternate assessments, communicating SSIP data, and current research on K–12 test accommodations.
Published: October 2025 
Parent Training & Information Center Webinar on Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement StandardsA Webinar providing information about Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards (AA-MAS) to Parent Training and Information Centers & Community Parent Resource Centers. AA-MAS are assessments that some states use to evaluate the performance of a small group of students with disabilities. Most states offering AA-MAS had phased it out by 2014.
Federal legislation requires that all students be included in accountability systems, but some students with disabilities need accommodations to access assessments. AA-MAS is an assessment option for some students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) whose progress to date, in response to appropriate instruction, is unlikely to achieve grade-level proficiency within the school year covered by the IEP. Students who are assessed with this option are required to have instruction in grade-level content. Students qualifying for an AA-MAS may be from any disability category.
Published: October 9, 2007
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) WebsiteFormats: OnlineA website presenting NCEO, which is a federally-funded technical assistance center that supports states and districts on issues related to inclusive assessments, particularly for students with disabilities, English learners (ELs), and ELs with disabilities. NCEO has a rich set of reports and other publications on a range of topics related to educational assessments. NCEO is one of ICI's affiliated centers.
Published: 2000