There continues to be confusion among some educators and staff in State Education Agencies (SEAs) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) about what is an accommodation and what is a modification. This confusion about accommodations and modifications happens in how these words are used in both instruction and assessment. The confusion is further…

Strings teaching and learning has tended to emphasize performance rather than the quality of experience for the children. School instruction has become rigid and focused on technical accuracy. Alternative teaching strategies must be pursued in order to provide a challenging yet enjoyable experience of playing and learning the bowed string…

The purpose of this report is to propose a theory of action for the development of an alternate English language proficiency assessment (AELPA) system to support the integrated instruction and assessment for English learners with significant cognitive disabilities (ELSCDs). This theory of action examines the purposes of an ELP assessment system…

In March 2020, school districts across California closed their doors, rapidly adapting operations and instruction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to understand the immediate impact of the unprecedented closure of schools prompted grave concerns about meeting students' needs, particularly for the most vulnerable. This report details…

"Current Studies in Educational Disciplines 2021" is published annually from the selected papers invited by the editors. This edition includes 6 sections and 14 papers from the field of Environmental Education, Science Education, Educational Technology, Mathematics Education, Assessment in Education and STEM Education. All submissions…

This 'best available evidence' review was commissioned by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) in 2019 to inform the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Guidance document (EEF, 2020). This review was commissioned explicitly as a broad overview of evidence across a range of topics, with the intention that the EEF might then…

The number of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who enter secondary school settings and access the general education curriculum continues to grow. Many educators may find they are not prepared to adapt their instruction to meet both state standards and the diverse needs of the full spectrum individuals with ASD, which has…

The number of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who enter secondary school settings and access the general education curriculum continues to grow. Many educators may find they are not prepared to adapt their instruction to meet both state standards and the diverse needs of the full spectrum individuals with ASD, which has…

The 2011 Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, a joint conference with the Indiana Foreign Language Teachers Association, focused on trends, innovations, and national programs that are picking up steam as the first decade of the twenty-first century ends. Several innovations have the potential to unify world language…

Describes multiple intelligence instruction (MII), based on the theory that humans possess seven intelligences: visual, musical, logical-mathematical, intrapersonal, interpersonal, linguistic, and bodily-kinesthetic. Argues that current methods of assessment are deficit-based and, therefore, not helpful in assessing MII students. Describes an…

Describes an oral curriculum constructed to help students develop a personal understanding of literature in a demanding academic program. Notes that an integral part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program is centered on the need for students to create both oral and written commentaries as part of their assessment. Concludes that this oral…

Presents examples of one rubric style and different ways that rubrics can be used. Uses the example of developing student understanding of how energy moves through the atmosphere. (MKR)

This article reviews articles within this special issue on science education for students with disabilities, examining the articles in the context of current activities and resources in science education. Constructivism and alternative assessment techniques are seen as especially noteworthy movements in improving science teaching and learning.…

This paper explores issues related to alternative assessment approaches in language arts and social studies classrooms. A rationale for a more comprehensive assessment approach within a democratic framework is developed, and ideas for constructing rubrics in language arts and social studies classrooms are presented. Pedagogical implications for…

Explains an eleventh grade literature unit on Transcendentalism which employed a wide variety of supplemental materials and literary connections and which provided alternate assessment opportunities. Details how this unit revealed meaningful connections through comics, music, free reading, and multiple intelligences. Concludes that many students…