Assessments
Suggestions of Formal Assessment Instruments for Use With the Special Education Curriculum
Assessment is a critical element in the instruction process. There is a direct relationship between what is
assessed and what is taught. For the instructional process to be effective, assessment, curriculum and
instruction need to be aligned. The following will briefly describe various testing instruments and
assessment ideas to support instructional goals and objectives.
Bracken Basic Concept Scale
(The Psychological Corporation)
Pictorial multiple-choice battery that measures knowledge of various concepts such as color, letter
identification, numbers and comparisons.
Brigance Inventory of Early Development
(Curriculum Associates)
Criterion referenced test that assesses over 200 developmental, readiness, and early academic skills in
eleven major skill areas such as pre-ambulatory motor and basic reading.
Brigance Life Skills Inventory
(Curriculum Associates)
Assesses listening, speaking, reading, writing, comprehending, and computing skills in nine life skill
sections. For example, speaking, listening and food.
Brigance Inventory of Basic Skills
(Curriculum Associates)
Assesses strengths and weaknesses in readiness, reading, language arts and math.
Boehm Test of Basic Concepts
(The Psychological Corporation)
Pictorial multiple-choice Test that measures knowledge of basic concepts considered necessary for
school achievement
Developmental Assessment for the Severely Handicapped
(Pro-Ed Publication)
This test is a criterion-referenced system (normal to Severely handicapped, non-verbal) that provides a
means of measuring, programing, and tracking skills across five developmental areas.
Language, Sensory Motor, Social Emotional, Activities of Daily Living, Pre-Academics This test can be
administered to all students including adults with a developmental age of 0-6 years of age.
Expressive One Word Picture Vocabulary Test
(Academy Therapy Publications)
Black and white line drawings of various objects, people and activities are presented to determine a
child's verbal knowledge of picture vocabulary. This test provides information about a child's ability to
unitize language. Normed ages ranges from two years to twelve years.
The Learning Accomplishment Profile for Developmentally Young Children
(E-LAP Birth - 36 months) (Kaplan Press)
Gives profile in gross motor, fine motor, cognitive, language, self help and social emotional areas
Language Arts Assessments Portfolio (LAAP)
(American Guidance Service)
Provides a valuable analysis of student achievement and progress in four areas of language arts, read,
writing, listening, and speaking. Authentic and meaningful because it uses students own language arts
material. Documented results stored in a portfolio.
Kaufman Survey of Early Academic and Language Skills (K-SEALS)
(Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc)
Surveys both expressive and receptive vocabulary in an organized and systemic fashion. Sub-tests
include vocabulary, numbers, letters, words and articulation survey.
Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (K-TEA)
(American Guidance Service)
Norn-referenced sub-test scores in three areas: Mathematics reading and spelling.
Peabody Individual Achievement Test - Revised (PLAT-R)
(Curriculum Associates Inc.)
Reading, mathematics, spelling and writing are assessed in non-threatening, simple format that requires
only a pointing response.
Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test - Revised
(American Guidance Service)
A non-verbal Multiple choice test that measures receptive vocabulary.
Test of Early Reading Ability
(Pro-Ed Publication)
Measures the actual reading ability of young children ages 3-0 to 9-11. Items measures knowledge of
contextual meaning, alphabet and conversions.
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales
(American Guidance Service)
Behavior rating scale that measures four areas of adaptive behavior (communication, daily living skills,
socialization, and motor skills) and one general area of maladaptive behavior.
Woodcock Johnson - Revised (WJ-R)
(Riverside Publishing Co.)
Provides complete assessment of reading, mathematics, written language and knowledge.
Key Diagnostic Arithmetic Test
(American Guidance Service)
Contains 14 sub tests that measure three areas of arithmetic ability: Content, function, and Applications
(1-6th Grade)
Weshler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT)
(The Psychological Corporation)
Age and grade based standard scores in reading, spelling, mathematics, and written language.
Assessment Ideas
Portfolio Assessment
Student keeps a portfolio of written stories, teacher accumulates photographs of student progress in
his/her school work. Rubrics can assess performance.
Authentic Assessment (Performance Based)
Focuses on actual student performance in either an individual or group situation - students switch box
that repeats "Hi, how are you!" when another person approaches.
Student Self - Assessment
Student evaluates at the end of the period/day weather he/she used the correct tone of voice when
communicating with others.
Video Tape/Audio Tape
Teacher Video Tape/Audio Tapes student progress on class assignments and projects.
Individual or Group Projects
Student make a collage that shows examples of their understanding of a class assignment.
Contracts
Student makes contract to converse with peer during lunch.
Rating Scale or Checklist
Student check off a list of skills to be accomplished.
Teacher Observation
Running records is a method of recording progress on any given text reading in order to plan for
instruction. (Refer to: An Observation Survey of Early Literacy Achievement by Marie M. Clay)