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NCEO Synthesis Reports: Gray Areas of Assessment Systems (#32)Formats: OnlineA 2000 paper clarifying what is meant by "gray areas of assessment" systems, delineating the primary issues that surround and contribute to gray areas, and providing suggestions for developing fully inclusive systems. As part of our nation's educational commitment to equity and excellence for all, we must develop better understanding of what it means to be accountable for all children, and identify more inclusive strategies of assessment and accountability. In response to our national commitment, and to specific legislation such as Title I of the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1997 (IDEA '97), states and school districts are in the midst of developing large-scale assessment systems. Some have considered the challenge of students who do not fit into these assessment systems as one of "gray area students." New understanding is emerging that the problem does not lie with the students, but with the systems. This paper provides brief case studies of the assessment practices in two states, thereby highlighting the reality of gray areas as states implement their assessment systems. After a review of the national reform context, it presents a model that provides a basis for defining and addressing gray area concerns.
Published: March 2000
NCEO Maryland/Kentucky State Assessment Project: Instructional and Assessment Accommodations in Kentucky (#7)Formats: OnlineA report from the past Maryland-Kentucky-NCEO Assessment Project, a federally funded effort supported, in part, by a grant to the Maryland State Department of Education.
Published: January 2000
NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Unintended Consequences of the Minnesota Basic Standards Tests: Do the Data Answer the Questions Yet? (#23)Formats: OnlineThis year 2000 report presents a literature review on the effects of statewide testing policies on the education of students with and without disabilities to examine whether the perception of increased referrals for special education assessments or 504 Accommodation Plans at the local level was present in published research.
Published: January 2000- NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Participation and Performance of Limited English Proficient Students: Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in Reading and Math, 1998-99 (#24)Formats: Online
This year 2000 report summarizes the participation and performance of English learners taking Minnesota's Comprehensive Assessments in Reading and Math for year 1998-1999.
Published: January 2000 
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- NCEO Policy Directions: Diploma Options and Graduation Policies for Students with Disabilities (#10)Formats: Online
This year 2000 report identifies key issues to consider when answering questions on graduating testing policies for students with disabilities. It also makes suggestions for establishing inclusive and fair diploma options and graduation policies.
Published: January 2000 - NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Feasibility and Practicality of a Decision Making Tool for Standards Testing of Students with Limited English Proficiency (#22)Formats: Online
This year 1999 report describes a decision-making tool to provide educators of English learner and bilingual students with the most current participation and test accommodation guidelines for informed decisions. The report describes the tool and reports on the results of a study examining the tool's feasibility.
Published: December 1999 - NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Feasibility and Practicality of a Decision Making Tool for Standards Testing of Students with Disabilities (#21)Formats: Online
This year 1999 report describes a study on the feasibility and practicality of an interactive decision-making tool developed to help special educators make appropriate participation and accommodations decisions, with students and their families, on Minnesota's statewide assessments.
Published: December 1999 - NCEO Maryland/Kentucky State Assessment Project: Instructional and Assessment Accommodations in Maryland (#6)Formats: Online
A report from the past Maryland-Kentucky-NCEO Assessment Project, a federally funded effort supported, in part, by a grant to the Maryland State Department of Education.
Published: December 1999 - NCEO Maryland/Kentucky State Assessment Project: Accommodations, Modifications, and Alternates for Instruction and Assessment (#5)Formats: Online
A report from the past Maryland-Kentucky-NCEO Assessment Project, a federally funded effort supported, in part, by a grant to the Maryland State Department of Education.
Published: December 1999 
NCEO State Surveys: 1999 State Special Education Outcomes - A Report on State Activities at the End of the CenturyThis year 1999 report summarizes results from a survey given to all states that addresses participation in statewide testing, high stakes attached to testing, and the development of alternate assessments.
Published: December 1999- NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Bilingual Accommodations for Limited English Proficient Students on Statewide Reading Tests: Phase 1 (#20)Formats: Online
This year 1999 report presents initial results from a quantitative and qualitative study examining the feasibility and desirability of offering English learners a reading test with bilingual test items and answer choices.
Published: October 1999 - NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Limited English Proficient Students' Participation and Performance on Statewide Assessments: Minnesota Basic Standards Reading and Math, 1996-1998 (#19)Formats: Online
This year 1999 report summarizes the participation and performance of English learners taking Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests from 1996 to 1998.
Published: September 1999 - NCEO Maryland/Kentucky State Assessment Project: Characteristics of Students Who Participate in Kentucky's Testing System Under Various Conditions (#4)Formats: Online
A report from the past Maryland-Kentucky-NCEO Assessment Project, a federally funded effort supported, in part, by a grant to the Maryland State Department of Education.
Published: August 1999 - Forum on Alternate Assessment and "Gray Area" AssessmentFormats: Online
This year 1999 report presents the proceedings of a pre-conference session at the National Conference on Large-Scale Assessment that took place June 1999, where consensus emerged that it is not the students byt the assessments for which gray areas currently exist.
Published: July 1999 - NCEO Classroom-Based Assessment Project: Using Accelerated Math to Enhance Instruction in a Mandated Summer School ProgramFormats: PDF
A report from NCEO's Classroom-Based Assessment Project.
Published: July 1999 - Accommodations and the Performance of All Students on Rhode Island's Performance Assessment (Rhode Island Report 1)Formats: Online
A report from the past Rhode Island Assessment Project, a federally funded effort.
Published: June 1999 - NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Participation and Performance of Students Receiving Special Education Services on Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests: Reading and Math, 1996 through 1998 (#18)Formats: Online
This year 1999 report summarizes the participation and performance of students with disabilities taking Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests from 1996 to 1998.
Published: April 1999 - NCEO Policy Directions: Out-of-Level Testing: Pros and Cons (#9)Formats: Online
This year 1999 report describes out-of-level testing, its history, and presents arguments for and against its use. The report concludes with key considerations and questions to address before implementing out-of-level testing policies or administering an out-of-level test to a student.
Published: April 1999 
NCEO Synthesis Reports: Status of the States in the Development of Alternate Assessments (#31)Formats: OnlineThis 1999 report describes the results of an online survey to assess the status of states in the development of alternate assessments to be in place by July 1, 2000. In the survey, states were also asked about a variety of developmental features of their alternate assessments.
Published: April 1999