Informal assessment can make a valuable contribution to the assessment process in special education. Informal procedures are characterized by their ability to be tailored to the needs of specific assessment situations and are especially useful in student evaluation for this reason. (Author)

The paper examines several basic grading procedures, noting the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure for handicapped students. Eight alternatives to grading are mentioned; of these, four are considered: (1) contract grading, (2) pass-fail grading, (3) the mastery learning approach, and (4) written evaluations (including checklists). It…

The manual presents information for school psychologists on non-test-based assessment for children with suspected handicapping conditions. The information is provided in a workshop format, with instructions for presenters (objectives, content outlines, and lesson plans). It is explained that non-test-based assessment is meant to complement…

The paper stresses the importance of informal assessment of spelling, describing both quantitative and qualitative implications. Stages of word knowledge are reviewed and examples of student errors are cited to illustrate needed instruction. (CL)

The authors present an informal assessment strategy format to aid teachers in meeting the needs of the handicapped student. The format includes an assessment sequence, how to analyze assessment results, and how to interpret results. (CT)

The paper suggests informal and formal procedures for evaluating students whose primary language is not English. The importance of detailing the student's educational history and of understanding the community setting is noted. The native language should be used to gather this and other informal data, and translators should be trained in cultural…

Discussion of the assessment of students with disabilities receiving services in inclusive settings focuses on assessing for updating the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and for guiding instruction. It considers the use of norm-referenced assessment, informal assessment, assessment for instruction, teacher observation and listening skills,…

The guide, developed by the Secondary Transition and Employment Project (STEP) in Idaho, describes a rationale and model for implementing secondary/vocational assessment of students with disabilities that is integrated with curriculum and transition strategies. Assessment and curricular strategies are particularly intended for students in rural…

This text on the assessment of students with disabilities is divided into six major parts. Part 1, "Introduction to Assessment, Issues and Concerns," discusses the historical, philosophical, legal, practical and ethical bases of assessment and proposes an assessment model. Part 2, "Informal Procedures: Basic Tools for Teachers," includes chapters…

Intended for use with students preparing for careers in school psychology, the text assumes little familiarity with special education and focuses on those aspects of special education of greatest relevance for the assessment process. The book is divided into two major parts: Part I, "General Considerations," includes a brief description of the…

Part of a series designed to provide practical resources for transition personnel on a variety of topics essential to the process of preparing individuals with disabilities for adulthood, this guide focuses on assessment for transition planning. Chapter 1, "Transitions Assessment: What Do We Need To Know about Students and Why?," discusses the…

This book is designed to provide insight into the ways in which psychologists conduct psychoeducational assessments in a variety of settings. Each contributed chapter gives a detailed and practical discussion of a particular assessment instrument or strategy along with a detailed case study. Chapters have the following titles and authors:…

This resource guide, one of a series of annotated bibliographies describing the collection of the lending library of the Vocational Special Needs (VSN) Program at Texas A&M University, lists available materials dealing with assessment and evaluation. Covered in the individual sections of the guide are the following topics: general resources;…