Now we have looked at how Psychology and law play a role in Special Education Assessment. It is from these paradigms that much of the methods of Special Education, including assessment arises. In the future you may even wish to spend some time looking at Psychology and new trends in legislation. Did you know almost all of the main theories of education and classroom management arise from the field of Psychology. This includes behavioralism and cognitivism…which interestingly have both been abandoned in large part by the Psychological fields.

As a teacher, or pre-service teacher you know what an important role Assessment plays in your day-today classroom. Even if you have never taken an education class before you understand the importance of assessment in education. Not only should you have taken hundreds perhaps even thousands of tests in your own educational program, but you hear about testing in education constantly if you watch the news or read the newspaper. Assessment really captures the mind of the people. This in itself should indicate to you that testing is not innocuous, it really can impact a persons' entire life.

Let us focus our view for the pages ahead. We will be looking specifically at where assessment plays a role in the determination of a program of Special Education for a student.

http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jde7/ese504/class/advanced/concepts.html

The following chart uses making a Cake

as a Metaphor for the IEP Process

It is not a mystery to uncover where amid these stems the assessment takes place. It is important to remember that the assessment just like the cake ingredients becomes infused in the process and impacts each and every following step. So if you use poor ingredients (a badly written or administered Assessment) you will end up with a lackluster final product.

Your assistance in ensuring a quality product comes in several stages here. Prior to the assessment you can ask questions and be sure that the Psychometrist has accurate up-to-date information about the student and his or he work and social history. Heaven forbid but some students don't want to tell the truth about what is happening in their lives to a complete stranger (I know can you imagine when that has ever happened). In addition explain to the evaluator exactly what has been happening and what you would like to have answers for (remember the Psychometrist is good with human behavior and understanding people but that does not make him or her a mind reader). After the evaluation you can help by asking intelligent and logical questions. This means you will need to understand what the assessments are for and what they are supposed to be measuring, as well as having an idea about what you will use the information for as you help in the development of the IEP.

Remember IEP's are formed by committee…you will have lots of help.