This paper discusses how educators can apply positive behavioral support (PBS) to students with and without disabilities and conduct functional behavioral assessments (FBAs). It begins by describing the challenges that educators face in educating an increasingly heterogeneous population of students, including students with external and internal…

This guide contains the recently revised 1998 Texas procedures concerning dyslexia and related disorders and provides school districts and parents with additional information on the state's dyslexia law and its relationship to the federal laws, Section 540 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The…

Discusses which kinds of data educators should respect and which they should reject. Asserts that most state accountability tests fail to produce the kinds of data that will improve teaching and learning. Teachers can get the data they need from their own instructionally useful classroom assessments. (WFA)

Factors that may hinder use of computers by speech/language/hearing clinicians in the schools are limited access, lack of training, worry over time constraints, and doubts regarding efficacy of computer activities. Clinicians should explore possible benefits of computer use such as tools for linguistic and phonological analysis, treatment data…

Words Work! is an approach to improving literacy outcomes for children through teacher development and parent engagement. In this article the authors describe the pilot phase of the project. The staff at Words Work! created an assessment system that aligns curriculum with assessment and collection of student data and teacher planning. Teachers use…

Educators who thoroughly investigate data, raise questions, examine student learning, test their hypotheses, and then share their findings are mirroring effective math and science instruction. Using collaborative inquiry, data teams can help improve teacher knowledge and help teachers change their practice in ways that will enhance student…

This book contains a compilation of papers presented at the International Conference on Education and New Developments (END 2017), organized by the World Institute for Advanced Research and Science (W.I.A.R.S.). Education, in our contemporary world, is a right since we are born. Every experience has a formative effect on the constitution of the…

Changes that have been made in reporting and disseminating information from the National Assessment of Educational Progress are discussed, focusing on those changes brought about by the first Trial State Assessment (TSA). The TSA collected data on the mathematics performance of students in grades 4, 8, and 12 in public and private schools in 40…

Michigan's Macomb Community College's institutional assessment model involves using technology to collect and disseminate data on student learning in order to facilitate continuous improvement and adaptation. The first element of this five-part model is the mandatory testing, orientation, and placement of incoming students. Using placement test…

This memorandum discusses a number of recommendations proposed for changes in the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP). The Higher Level Assessment Study Group discussed ways to further MEAP testing goals: expand testing into additional subject areas, for every pupil, on a cyclical basis; set higher standards encouraging student…

The evaluation system used by the District of Columbia Public Schools is explained. Information is organized to assess four categories: students; instructional personnel; classroom characteristics; and reading programs. The system is used to provide basic profiles and comparative information for four areas of planning: (1) needs assessment; (2)…

THIS EXPLORATORY STUDY EXAMINED THE WAYS IN WHICH DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN ARE ASSESSED FOR PLACEMENT AND REGROUPING IN AN UNGRADED PRIMARY UNIT. THE STUDY ALSO ATTEMPTED TO FIND OUT WHETHER THE ADMINISTRATION AND TEACHERS HAD PRECONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE CHILD. FINDINGS ARE BASED ON SURVEYS OF THE DIRECTIVES AND PUBLICATIONS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT,…

The Georgia Governor's Honors Program (GHP), an intense 8-week summer program for academically and artistically gifted incoming high school juniors and seniors, was evaluated. Areas of the program investigated were: (1) nature and effectiveness of the instructional experiences, (2) post-program behavior for both faculty and students, which were…

This Digest discusses provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that require functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) and behavioral intervention plans (BIPs) to be conducted prior to a change in placement or suspension for more than 10 days, based on inappropriate behaviors for students with disabilities. It presents…

Data collected at three schools in California with programs for students of limited English proficiency (LEP) suggests that exit rates should not be the focus of evaluations of LEP programs and that schools cannot adequately answer questions about students' academic achievement and English language acquisition by program type. (SLD)