• Senior Research Associate
Email
thurl001@umn.edu
Phone
+1 612-624-4826
Fax
+1 612-624-0879
Address
Institute On Community Integration
Masonic Inst For The Developing Brain [map]
2025 E River Pkwy
Rm 1-333
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3604

Martha Thurlow is a Senior Research Associate at the National Center on Educational Outcomes. In this position, she addresses the implications of contemporary U.S. policy and practice for students with disabilities and English Learners, including national and statewide assessment policies and practices, standards-setting efforts, and graduation requirements. Dr. Thurlow has conducted research and technical assistance for the past 45 years in a variety of areas, including assessment and decision making, learning disabilities, early childhood education, dropout prevention, effective classroom instruction, and integration of students with disabilities in general education settings.

Dr. Thurlow has published extensively on all of these topics, authoring numerous books and book chapters, and publishing more than 200 articles and reports. She served as co-Editor of Exceptional Children from 1995 to 2003, the research journal of the Council for Exceptional Children, and is currently an associate editor for numerous journals.

Projects

Project

National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

Provides national leadership in designing and building educational assessments and accountability systems that appropriately monitor educational results.

Project

Student Assessment Inventory for School Districts: Considerations for Special Education Assessment Systems [Archived]

Writes a paper to guide school districts about how to take stock of the assessments that students with disabilities are taking, and ensuring that they are taking only the assessments that serve …

Project

National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes

Aimed to increase the number of deaf individuals who are admitted to, persist in, and complete postsecondary education or training - without requiring remedial coursework. Other goals included …

Project

TIES Center: Increasing Time, Instructional Effectiveness, Engagement, and State Support for Inclusive Practices for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

Creates sustainable changes in school and district educational systems so that students with significant cognitive disabilities can fully engage in the same instructional and non-instructional …

Project

Improving Instruction for English Learners Through Improved Accessibility Decisions

Developed two professional development modules on accessibility and accommodations decision making for instruction and assessment for English learners. One module is for educators and the other is …

Project

Partnership for Accessible Reading Assessment (PARA) [Archived]

Engaged in research on and development of accessible reading assessments to provide a valid demonstration of reading proficiency for increasingly diverse populations of students in public schools, …

Project

Exploring Predictors of Transition Planning Participation and Future Goal Aspirations of Secondary Students with Disabilities [Archived]

Explores the relationship between IEP transition planning meeting factors (e.g., a secondary student’s invitation, participation, and contribution) and the student’s aspirations for postsecondary …

Products

NCEO Data Analytics: AA-AAS Participation Rate from 2007-08 to 2016-2017 (#12)

This interactive report presents data on the participation rate and percent proficient on the alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS) by grade and content across …

Published: 2020-01-22

NCEO Reports: A Summary of the Research on the Effects of K–12 Test Accommodations: 2019 (#433)

This report provides an update on the state of the research on testing accommodations. Previous reports by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) have covered research published since …

Published: May 2022

ELPA21 White Paper: Developing an Alternate ELPA21 for English Learners with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities

This White Paper was developed as part of the commitment of the English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA21) project to the development and implementation of an alternate …

Published: August 2018

Educators' Thoughts on Making Decisions About Accessibility for All Students

This report describes the asynchronous online focus group activity of the Data Informed Accessibility - Making Optimal Needs-based Decisions (DIAMOND) project. The goal of conducting the focus …

Published: September 2018

Forum on Speech-to-Text and Scribing: Getting a Handle on What This Means

A report on a forum held on June 26, 2018 in San Diego, California that brought together staff from state departments of education, school districts, testing and testing-related companies, and …

Published: September 2018

TIES Center Briefs: Grading My Child with Significant Cognitive Disabilities in an Inclusive Classroom (TIES Center Brief #6)

Grades are assigned and report cards given in inclusive classrooms. It is important that thought has been given to how work from students with significant cognitive disabilities will be graded and …

Published: February 2021

The Characteristics of Low Performing Students on Large-Scale Assessments (NCEO Brief)

A brief reporting the findings of a longitudinal analysis of three years of student-level demographic and performance data for four states: the 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07 school years. Data …

Published: 2010

Improving Accommodations Outcomes: Monitoring Instructional and Assessment Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

A document presenting a five-step process for schools, districts, and states to use in monitoring accommodations for instruction and assessment. It was designed to be a companion to the "Council …

Published: 2009

Trends in the Participation and Performance of Students with Disabilities (NCEO Brief)

A brief describing the results of an analysis of trends in the public reporting of state assessment results for students with disabilities. The analysis was conducted on a compilation of publicly …

Published: 2008

Hints and Tips for Addressing Accommodations Issues for Peer Review

A report examining the key accommodations issues that have arisen for states in the recent federal standards and assessments peer review process. The report by the Institute's National Center on …

Published: 2007

A State Guide to the Development of Universally Designed Assessments

A resource guide describing universal design for assessments -- an approach to educational assessment based on principles of accessibility for a wide variety of end users. Elements of universal …

Published: 2006

Universal Design Online Manual

A tool outlining steps that states can take to ensure universal design of assessments. The recommendations can be used for both computer and paper-based assessments. The authors recommend that …

Published: 2006

How to Develop State Guidelines for Access Assistants: Scribes, Readers, and Sign Language Interpreters

A manual offering states a tool to assist in the development or enhancement of guidelines for access assistants. Whether a state already has guidelines or is just in the process of establishing …

Published: 2006

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Accommodations: Results of a Survey of Alabama Special Education Teachers (#81)

A report containing the findings from a survey of 2,336 special education teachers in the state of Alabama on making and implementing decisions about accommodations. A number of areas of strength …

Published: November 2010

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Characteristics of States' Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards in 2009-2010 (#80)

A report tracking the characteristics of states' alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards (AA-MAS) that the National Center on Educational Outcomes has been following since …

Published: November 2010

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Computer-Based Testing: Practices and Considerations (#78)

A report exploring the context of computer-based testing (CBT), current state computer-based tests, and considerations for students with disabilities, in part as follow-up to a similar exploration …

Published: September 2010

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Science Assessments for Students with Disabilities in School Year 2006-2007: What We Know about Participation, Performance, and Accommodations (#77)

A report documenting the inclusion of students with disabilities in state science assessments in 2006-2007, the period just before the required implementation of statewide science assessments. The …

Published: August 2010

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Earning a High School Diploma through Alternative Routes (#76)

A report based on a study examining the alternative routes to passing the high school exit exam that were available during the school year 2008-09 to students to earn a standard high school …

Published: June 2010

NCEO Synthesis Reports: States' Participation Guidelines for Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards (AA-MAS) in 2009 (#75)

A report updating information in previous National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) reports that, since 2007, have annually compiled, analyzed, and summarized states' participation guidelines …

Published: March 2010

NCEO Synthesis Reports: States' Accommodations Policies for Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards (AA-MAS) in 2008-2009 (#74)

A report presenting the results of an analysis of states' accommodations policies for the Alternate Assessment based on Modified Achievement Standards (AA-MAS), and compares these policies with …

Published: March 2010

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Characteristics of States' Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards in 2008 (#72)

A report describing an assessment option permitted by federal regulations that give states the flexibility to offer an alternate assessment based on modified academic achievement standards (AA-MAS …

Published: September 2009

NCEO Synthesis Reports: States' Participation Guidelines for Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards (AA-MAS) in 2008 (#71)

A report describing an assessment option permitted by federal regulations that give states the flexibility to offer an alternate assessment based on modified academic achievement standards (AA-MAS …

Published: December 2008

NCEO Synthesis Reports: A Principled Approach to Accountability Assessments for Students with Disabilities (#70)

A 2008 report updating the National Center on Educational Outcomes' (NCEO) report from 2001 that identified principles and characteristics underlying inclusive assessment and accountability …

Published: December 2008

NCEO Synthesis Reports: 2007 State Policies on Assessment Participation and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (#69)

A 2008 report updating the National Center on Educational Outcomes' (NCEO) report from 2006 that tracked and analyzed state policies on assessment participation and accommodations since 1992. The …

Published: December 2008

NCEO Synthesis Reports: States' Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Achievement Standards (AA-MAS) in 2007 (#67)

This year 2007 report summarizes publicly available information about alternates based on modified achievement standards with regard to eligibility and assessment characteristics.

Published: December 2007

1% Toolkit: Developing an Assessment Participation Action Plan: A Tool for District Leaders (NCEO Tool #14)

The purpose of this resource is to provide a tool for districts that wish to improve student assessment participation. The tool provides guidance on how district leaders can develop an assessment …

Published: April 2023

NCEO Reports: The Formative Assessment Practices Landscape for Students with Disabilities: An Analysis of State Definitions and Practices, 2021 (#435)

This report outlines the approaches that state education agencies (SEAs) have taken in defining and using formative assessment practices, including practices to explicitly support students with …

Published: May 2022

Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Teachers

This Brief for teachers answers questions about working with a language interpreter for families whose children are English learners. Clear, comprehensible communication between parents and …

Published: December 2019

Examining Assigned Accommodations Over Time Through Interactive Data Analytics

This presentation, examining assigned accommodations over time through interactive data analytics, was presented at the 2021 Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) annual conference.

Published: 2021-03-08

NCEO Synthesis Reports: English Language Learners with Disabilities in State English Language Proficiency Assessments: A Review of State Accommodation Policies (#66)

This year 2007 report documents states' participation and accommodations policies for English learners with disabilities on English Language Proficiency assessments for 2005-06.

Published: December 2007

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Item-Level Effects of the Read-Aloud Accommodation for Students with Reading Disabilities (#65)

This year 2006 report examines performance of students with specific reading disabilities on math test items anticipated to be highly sensitive to accommodation effects.

Published: September 2006

NCEO Synthesis Reports: 2005 State Policies on Assessment Participation and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (#64)

This year 2006 report analyzes states' participation and accommodation policies for students with disabilities for school year 2005, but does not determine federal compliance.

Published: September 2006

NCEO Synthesis Reports: A Comparison of IEP/504 Accommodations Under Classroom and Standardized Testing Conditions: A Preliminary Report on SEELS Data (#63)

This year 2006 report uses SEELS data to compare accommodations in IEP and 504 Plans to the accommodations that students reportedly receive in classes and on standardized tests.

Published: September 2006

NCSET Information Brief: High School Graduation Requirements and Students with Disabilities

A brief outlining issues and controversies surrounding the use of exit examinations - an increasingly common graduation requirement for secondary schools - including the reasons proponents support …

Published: February 2005

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Access Assistants for State Assessments: A Study of State Guidelines for Scribes, Readers, and Sign Language Interpreters (#58)

This year 2005 report describes a national study on state guidelines provided for human access assistants that help provide certain accommodations to students on state assessments.

Published: December 2005

NCEO Synthesis Reports: 2003 State Policies on Assessment Participation and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (#56)

This year 2005 report analyzes states' 2003 participation and accommodation policies, but does not determine whether policies complied with federal requirements.

Published: June 2005

NCSET Information Brief: Diploma Options for Students with Disabilities

A brief outlining the different types of diploma options (alternative means of graduating from high school), discussing the benefits of systems with single diploma options and those with multiple …

Published: February 2005

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Alternative Routes to the Standard Diploma (#54)

This year 2005 report presents findings on 16 states that provided alternate routes for students to earn a high school diploma, analyzes the processes, and makes recommendations.

Published: March 2005

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Progress Monitoring in an Inclusive Standards-Based Assessment and Accountability System (#53)

This year 2004 report addresses progress monitoring for students with disabilities, discussing contextual challenges, benefits, and offering recommendations for practice.

Published: February 2004

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Measuring Academic Achievement of Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities: Building Understanding of Alternate Assessment Scoring Criteria (#50)

This year 2003 report compares how five states addressed defining and scoring successful outcomes for students with significant disabilities on alternate assessments.

Published: June 2003

NCEO Synthesis Reports: 2001 State Policies on Assessment Participation and Accommodations (#46)

This year 2001 report analyzes state participation and accommodation policies nationwide and presents major findings.

Published: July 2002

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Access to Computer-Based Testing for Students with Disabilities (#45)

This year 2002 report recommends a process for transforming paper and pencil tests to computer-based tests based on research, accommodation considerations, opportunities and challenges of these tests.

Published: June 2002

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Universal Design Applied to Large Scale Assessments (#44)

The purpose of this report is to explore the development of universal design and to consider its application to large scale assessments.

Published: June 2002

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Use of Alternate Assessment Results in Reporting and Accountability Systems: Conditions for Use Based on Research and Practice (#43)

This report reviews current (2002) understanding of the technical and policy considerations involved in high quality alternate assessment.

Published: May 2002

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Empirical Support for Accommodations Most Often Allowed in State Policy (#41)

This year 2001 report is a compilation of information collected from NCEO's searchable database on the accommodations that are most often allowed in state policies.

Published: November 2001

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Principles and Characteristics of Inclusive Assessment and Accountability Systems (#40)

This year 2001 report presents six core principles of inclusive assessment and accountability systems with a brief rationale and specific characteristics that reflect each principle.

Published: November 2001

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Addressing Standards and Assessments on the IEP (#38)

The purpose of this year 2001 study was to examine state Individualized Education Program (IEP) forms to determine the extent to which they include documentation of standards and assessments.

Published: April 2001

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Students with Disabilities in Standards-Based Assessment and Accountability Systems: Emerging Issues, Strategies, and Recommendations (#37)

A 2001 report that addresses emerging issues affecting students with disabilities in standards-based assessment and accountability systems. Strategies for addressing the challenges are provided

Published: February 2001

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Social Promotion and Students with Disabilities: Issues and Challenges in Developing State Policies (#34)

This 2000 policy study looks at existing and emerging state policies on social promotion to determine the extent to which students with disabilities are included or excluded.

Published: June 2000

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Neglected Numerators, Drifting Denominators, and Fractured Fractions: Determining Participation Rates for Students with Disabilities in Statewide Assessment Programs (#23)

This 1996 report provides recommendations for policymakers, local practitioners and administrators to assist reporting the participation of students with disabilities in statewide assessments.

Published: October 1996

NCEO Technical Reports: A Summary of the Research on the Effects of Test Accommodations: 2007-2008 (#56)

The use of accommodations for both instruction and assessment continues to be of great importance for students with disabilities. Numerous efforts are underway to ensure that students with disabili…

Published: May 2010

NCEO Technical Reports: States Challenged to Meet Special Education Targets for Assessment Indicator (#55)

All states are required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to submit Annual Performance Reports (APRs) to the federal government. The purpose of this report is to reflect …

Published: February 2010

NCEO Technical Reports: State Reports on the Participation and Performance of English Language Learners with Disabilities in 2006-2007 (#54)

A report reviewing state reports on the participation and performance of English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities in 2006-2007. Previous data reports suggested that ELLs with disabilities…

Published: May 2009

NCEO Technical Reports: Achieving Transparency in the Public Reporting of 2006-2007 Assessment Results (#53)

A report summarizing States' reports on the participation and performance of students with disabilities by (a) submitting annual performance reports (APRs) to the U.S. Department of Education, and …

Published: July 2009

NCEO Technical Reports: Good News and Bad News in Disaggregated Subgroup Reporting to the Public on 2005-2006 Assessment Results (#52)

A report analyzing the public reporting of disaggregated data for students with disabilities by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). This analysis, which is the 10th done by NCEO, …

Published: December 2008

NCEO Technical Reports: An Analysis of Accommodations Issues from the Standards and Assessments Peer Review (#51)

A report commissioned by the Accommodations Monitoring Study Group of the Assessing Special Education Students State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards. It is the second in a three- …

Published: December 2008

NCEO Technical Reports: Trends in the Participation and Performance of Students with Disabilities (#50)

A report describing the first comprehensive analysis conducted by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) of trends in the public reporting of state assessment results for students with …

Published: December 2008

NCEO Technical Reports: Revisiting Graduation Requirements and Diploma Options for Youth with Disabilities: A National Study (#49)

A document reporting on National Center on Educational Outcomes' (NCEO) fourth study of state graduation requirements for students with disabilities. This national study was designed to describe …

Published: December 2007

NCEO Technical Reports: Student Think-Aloud Reflections on Comprehensible and Readable Assessment Items: Perspectives on What Does and Does Not Make an Item Readable (#48)

A document reporting on research related to large-scale assessments for students with learning disabilities in reading. The researchers examined the role of "readable and comprehensible" test …

Published: September 2007

NCEO Technical Reports: Nearing the Target in Disaggregated Subgroup Reporting to the Public on 2004-2005 Assessment Results (#46)

This year 2007 report describes the public reporting of achievement data for students with disabilities published on state department of education web sites for 2004-2005.

Published: April 2007

NCEO Technical Reports: A Summary of Research on the Effects of Test Accommodations: 2002 through 2004 (#45)

This year 2006 report summarizes a review of 49 empirical research studies on test accommodations between 2002 and 2004.

Published: September 2006

NCEO Technical Reports: Uneven Transparency: NCLB Tests Take Precedence in Public Assessment Reporting for Students with Disabilities (#43)

This year 2006 report describes the extent that states publicly reported assessment data for students with disabilities for 2003-2004.

Published: March 2006

NCEO Technical Reports: Steady Progress: State Public Reporting Practices for Students with Disabilities After the First Year of NCLB (2002-2003) (#40)

This 2005 report examines the extent to which states report to the public on the participation and performance of students with disabilities for year 2002-2003.

Published: May 2005

NCEO Technical Reports: Almost There in Public Reporting of Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities (#39)

This year 2004 report examines the extent that states reported participation and performance data for students with disabilities in the 2001-2002 school year.

Published: August 2004

NCEO Technical Reports: State Literacy Standards, Practice, and Testing: Exploring Accessibility (#38)

This year 2004 report reviews state reading standards and analyzes the correspondence between reading standard requirements and alternative modes of student interaction with print.

Published: May 2004

NCEO Technical Reports: A National Study on Graduation Requirements and Diploma Options for Youth with Disabilities (#36)

This 2003 report updates the status of states' graduation requirements and diploma options for students with disabilities after the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Published: October 2003

NCEO Technical Reports: Going public: What 2000-2001 Reports Tell Us about the Performance of Students with Disabilities (#35)

This 2003 report examines the extent to which states publicly reported participation and performance for students with disabilities in statewide assessments for 2000-2001.

Published: April 2003

NCEO Technical Reports: A Summary of Research on the Effects of Test Accommodations: 1999 through 2001 (#34)

This year 2002 report summarizes 46 empirical research studies on accommodations published from 1999 through 2001 and provides recommendations for future research.

Published: December 2002

NCEO Technical Reports: Are We There Yet? Accountability for the Performance of Students with Disabilities (#33)

This year 2002 report describes state accountability systems to determine how clearly public documents articulate the inclusion of students with disabilities in accountability calculations.

Published: November 2002

NCEO Technical Reports: On the Road to Accountability: Reporting Outcomes for Students with Disabilities (#32)

This year 2001 report reviews state education documents for the year 1999-2000 to determine the public availability of key outcome information for students with disabilities.

Published: December 2001

NCEO Technical Reports: Read-Aloud Accommodations: Effects on Multiple-Choice Reading and Math Items (#31)

This 2001 report examines the effects of a read-aloud accommodation on multiple-choice reading and math items on Missouri's state tests.

Published: September 2001

NCEO Technical Reports: What Databases Tell Us about Differential Levels of Use and How to Document the Use of Accommodations (#30)

This year 2001 report presents an analysis of accommodation use data from 12 states and discusses findings in the area of use rates, use patterns, and data accuracy.

Published: August 2001

NCEO Technical Reports: Assessment Accommodations Research: Considerations for Design and Analysis (#26)

This year 2000 report provides an overview of considerations for designing and analyzing research on assessment accommodations.

Published: December 2000

NCEO Technical Reports: Where's Waldo? A Third Search for Students with Disabilities in State Accountability Reports (#25)

This year 2000 report analyzes state education reports to determine what types of information are provided on students with disabilities and makes recommendations based on findings.

Published: April 2000

School Leader Series: Working with IEP Teams to Make State Assessment Participation and Accessibility and Accommodations Decisions (School Leader Series Brief #3)

This resource is designed to provide guidance to school leaders about working with IEP teams to make state assessment participation and accessibility and accommodations decisions. Developed in …

Published: 9/28/2021

NCEO Policy Directions: Using Growth for Accountability - Considerations for Students with Disabilities (#21)

A report providing considerations and recommendations on growth models for students with disabilities. The academic progress of students is an important indicator of educational success. For …

Published: January 2010

NCEO Policy Directions: Using Systematic Item Selection Methods to Improve Universal Design of Assessments (#18)

This year 2006 report provides an overview of assessment item selection methods that optimize universal design and makes recommendations.

Published: September 2006

NCEO Policy Directions: Putting it All Together - Including Students with Disabilities in Assessment and Accountability Systems (#16)

This year 2003 report provides an overview of key components of inclusive assessment and accountability systems, and describes how they fit together into a cohesive whole.

Published: October 2003

NCEO Policy Directions: Using Computer-based Tests with Students with Disabilities (#15)

This year 2003 report presents factors to consider in the design of computer-based testing for all students, including students with disabilities and English learners.

Published: January 2003

NCEO Policy Directions: Universally Designed Assessments - Better Tests for Everyone! (#14)

This year 2002 report describes Universal Design principles and outlines seven essential elements that apply to assessment design.

Published: June 2002

NCEO Annual Performance Reports and State Performance Plans: 2007-2008 State Assessment Data

This report summarizes the 2007-2008 state assessment information that was submitted by states in their Annual Performance Reports.

Published: August 2010

NCEO Annual Performance Reports and State Performance Plans: 2006-2007 State Assessment Data

This report summarizes the 2006-2007 state assessment information that was submitted by states in their Annual Performance Reports.

Published: July 2009

NCEO State Surveys: 2007 Survey of States - Activities, Changes, and Challenges for Special Education

This year 2007 report summarizes a survey to states addressing accommodations, participation rates and performance of students with disabilities in statewide assessments.

Published: October 2008

NCEO State Surveys: 2005 State Special Education Outcomes - Steps Forward in a Decade of Change

This year 2003 report summarizes a survey to states addressing accommodations, participation rates and performance of students with disabilities in statewide assessments.

Published: November 2005

NCEO State Surveys: 2003 State Special Education Outcomes - Marching On

This year 2003 report summarizes a survey to states on trends and emerging issues for students with disabilities in statewide assessments.

Published: December 2003

NCEO State Surveys: 2001 State Special Education Outcomes - A Report on State Activities at the Beginning of a New Decade

This year 2001 report summarizes a survey to states on participation and performance of students with disabilities in state testing and accountability for general and alternate assessments.

Published: June 2001

NCEO State Surveys: 1999 State Special Education Outcomes - A Report on State Activities at the End of the Century

This year 1999 report summarizes a survey to states on participation of students with disabilities in state assessments, high stakes for tests, and alternate assessment development.

Published: December 1999

NCEO Limited English Proficiency Projects Reports: Connecting English Language Proficiency, Statewide Assessments, and Classroom Proficiency (#5)

This year 2004 study provides information on the link between teacher ratings of English learners' academic language, language proficiency tests, and standardized assessments.

Published: August 2004

NCEO Limited English Proficiency Projects Reports: Relationships Between a Statewide Language Proficiency Test and Academic Achievement Assessments (#4)

This year 2004 report compares English learner reading performance on an English language proficiency test to English learner and English fluent peer performance on academic achievement tests.

Published: August 2004

NCEO Limited English Proficiency Projects Reports: 1999-2000 Participation and Performance of English Language Learners Reported in Public State Documents and Web Sites (#3)

This 2002 report summarizes publicly reported participation and performance data for English learners on state assessments.

Published: September 2002

NCEO Limited English Proficiency Projects Reports: State and District Assessments as an Avenue to Equity and Excellence for English Language Learners with Disabilities (#2)

This 2001 report summarizes publicly reported participation and performance data for English learners on state assessments.

Published: September 2001

NCEO Limited English Proficiency Projects Reports: The Effects of a Simplified English Language Dictionary on a Reading Test (#1)

This year 2001 report examines the performance of Hmong background English learners using a monolingual English dictionary accommodation on a reading test.

Published: March 2001

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Middle School Principals' Perspectives on Academic Standards-Based Instruction and Programming for English Language Learners with Disabilities (#22)

A report from a study following up on the findings of earlier NCEO research on instructional services and leadership for English language learners (ELLs) with disabilities. This study looked at a …

Published: September 2008

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Delphi Study of Instructional Strategies for English Language Learners with Disabilities: Recommendations from Educators Nationwide (#21)

A report from NCEO's national research spanning seven years that has focused on identifying and validating instructional strategies for ELLs with disabilities. In recent work, educators from five …

Published: September 2008

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Middle School Principals' Interpretation of State Policy and Guidance on Instructional Strategies for ELLs with Disabilities (#20)

A report describing how principals of successful schools translated information to teachers on designing accessible standards-based instruction for ELLs with disabilities. The study aimed to …

Published: September 2008

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Reading, Mathematics, and Science Instructional Strategies for English Language Learners with Disabilities - Insights from Educators Nationwide (#19)

A report studying instructional strategies at middle and junior high schools. Middle school teaching and learning is especially challenging, perhaps because the curriculum places greater cognitive …

Published: September 2008

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Standards-Based Instructional Strategies for English Language Learners with Disabilities (#18)

This year 2007 report describes the extent of instructional strategy information available to educators in states.

Published: February 2007

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Use of Chunking and Questioning Aloud to Improve the Reading Comprehension of English Language Learners with Disabilities (#17)

This year 2006 report describes how the chunking and questioning aloud instructional strategy could improve the reading achievement of English learners with disabilities.

Published: December 2006

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Math Strategy Instruction for Students with Disabilities who are Learning English (#16)

This year 2006 report describes the effect of a teacher-directed "think aloud" strategy with English learners with disabilities in math.

Published: November 2006

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Large-Scale Assessments and English Language Learners with Disabilities - A Case Study of Participation, Performance, and Perceptions: "Walking the Talk!" (#15)

This year 2006 report describes issues that surround the inclusion of English learners in states' large-scale assessment programs.

Published: August 2006

NCEO Brief: Steps to Equitably Include Deaf Students in Assessments (#25)

Standardized tests have many uses in education. For example, they are used to document student achievement, measure progress, and determine readiness for postsecondary education or employment. …

Published: December 2021

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Including English Language Learners with Disabilities in Large-Scale Assessments - A Case Study of Linguistically-Diverse Populations (#14)

This year 2006 report describes issues surrounding the inclusion of English learners with disabilities in states' large-scale assessment programs.

Published: July 2006

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Online Survey on Instructional Strategies for English Language Learners with Disabilities (#13)

This year 2006 report describes an online survey study about instructional strategies for English learners with disabilities.

Published: January 2006

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: ELL Parent Perceptions on Instructional Strategies for their Children with Disabilities (#12)

This year 2005 report examines parents' perspectives on instructional strategies teachers use with English learners with disabilities.

Published: November 2005

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Student Perceptions of Instructional Strategies - Voices of English Language Learners with Disabilities (#11)

This year 2005 report examines the perspective of English learners with disabilities on instructional strategies used in standards-based instruction.

Published: July 2005

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Beyond Subgroup Reporting - English Language Learners with Disabilities in 2002-2003 Online State Assessment Reports (#10)

This year 2005 report describes the extent that states publicly reported on the participation and performance of English learners with disabilities in 2002-2003.

Published: January 2005

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Including English Language Learners with Disabilities in Statewide Assessments (#9)

This year 2005 report describes the challenges states have in including English learners with disabilities in statewide assessments and the solutions they have identified.

Published: June 2005

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Policymaker Perspectives on the Inclusion of English Language Learners with Disabilities in Statewide Assessments (#8)

This year 2005 report describes how states are including English learners with disabilities in statewide assessments and supporting local schools in communicating their results to parents.

Published: August 2005

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Educator Perceptions of Instructional Strategies for Standards-based Education of English Language Learners with Disabilities (#7)

This year 2004 report summarizes a study on teacher-identified strategies for teaching grade-level reading/English language arts, math, and science to English learners with disabilities.

Published: August 2004

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: English Language Learners with Disabilities and Large-Scale Assessments - What the Literature Can Tell Us (#6)

This year 2005 report provides a literature review of the inclusion of English learners with disabilities in statewide accountability assessments.

Published: June 2005

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: A Review of 50 States' Online Large-Scale Assessment Policies - Are English Language Learners with Disabilities Considered? (#5)

This year 2004 report describes the extent that English learners with disabilities are considered in state assessment policies.

Published: September 2004

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: 2000-2001 Participation and Performance of English Language Learners with Disabilities on Minnesota Standards-based Assessments (#4)

This year 2004 report analyzes the performance of English learners with disabilities on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments for 2000-2001, in grades 3 and 5.

Published: June 2004

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Graduation Exam Participation (2000-2001) of English Language Learners with Disabilities (#3)

This year 2005 report examines the performance of English learners with disabilities on Minnesota's Basic Standards Test in 2000-2001.

Published: June 2005

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Graduation Exam Participation and Performance (1999-2000) of English Language Learners with Disabilities (#2)

This year 2005 report examines the participation and performance of English learners with disabilities on Minnesota's Basic Standards Test in 1999-2000.

Published: May 2005

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: 1999-2000 Participation and Performance of English Language Learners with Disabilities on Minnesota Standards-based Assessments (#1)

This year 2005 report examines the participation and performance of English learners with disabilities on the 1999-2000 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments.

Published: June 2004

NCEO Annual Performance Reports and State Performance Plans: 2004-2005 State Assessment Data

A report summarizing assessment data from State Performance Plans.

Published: June 2007

NCEO Annual Performance Reports and State Performance Plans: 2003-2004 State Assessment Data

A report summarizing assessment data from State Performance Plans.

Published: June 2006

NCEO Annual Performance Reports and State Performance Plans: 2002-2003 State Assessment Data

A report summarizing assessment data from State Performance Plans.

Published: June 2005

NCEO Annual Performance Reports and State Performance Plans: Biennial Performance Reports: 2000-2001 State Assessment Data

A report summarizing assessment data from State Performance Plans.

Published: December 2002

NCEO Technical Reports: Public Reporting of 2007-2008 Assessment Information on Students with Disabilities: Progress on the Gap Front (#57)

A report analyzing public reporting of disaggregated assessment data for elementary and secondary students with disabilities in the United States - the 12th annual report by NCEO to do so. Reportin…

Published: March 2011

Alternate Assessment Forum: Connecting into a Whole

A report summarizing the discussion sessions during the Third Annual Alternate Assessment Forum held in 2000. One hundred thirty-five representatives from 39 states plus American Samoa participated…

Published: 2000

NCEO Policy Directions: Including Alternate Assessment Results in Accountability Decisions (#13)

This year 2001 report addresses the use of alternate assessment results in School accountability systems and provides state examples.

Published: June 2002

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Appeals Processes for Students Who Fail Graduation Exams: How Do They Apply to Students with Disabilities? (#36)

A 2000 report of findings about high stakes tests for students with disabilities, and the appeals processes for those who need an alternative way of demonstrating skills. High stakes tests that...

Published: July 2000

NCEO Synthesis Reports: State Alternate Assessments: Status as IDEA Alternate Assessment Requirements Take Effect (#35)

A report describing the approaches states were taking, as of the year 2000, to alternate assessments for the small number of students with disabilities who could not participate in state and …

Published: June 2000

NCEO Technical Reports: Participation and Performance Reporting for the Alternate Assessment Based on Modified Achievement Standards (AA-MAS) (#58)

A report examining publicly-reported participation and performance data for the alternate assessment based on modified achievement standards (AA-MAS). Analysis included all states publicly reportin…

Published: April 2011

Meeting the Needs of Special Education Students: Recommendations for the Race-to-the-Top Consortia and States

A report identifying several actions for the Race to the Top assessment consortia to take to meet the needs of special education students. The actions are consistent with standards and principles …

Published: 2011

PARA Accessible Reading Assessment Reports: Studying Less-Accurately Measured Students

A report describing a small-scale study that closely examined a limited number of students to shed light on several questions. The study provided a preliminary look at the possibility of using …

Published: October 2010

PARA Accessible Reading Assessment Reports: Cognitive and Achievement Differences Between Students with Divergent Reading and Oral Comprehension Skills: Implications for Accessible Reading Assessment Research

A study examining the question, "Are there any analysis of the Woodcock-Johnson III Battery (WJ III) data that might shed light on learner characteristics that differentiate students whose measured…

Published: May 2010

PARA Accessible Reading Assessment Reports: Examination of a Reading Pen as a Partial Auditory Accommodation for Reading Assessment

A report evaluating the effectiveness of a reading pen as a Partial Auditory Accommodation for large scale reading assessments when the pen is used only to pronounce words on demand. Four research …

Published: February 2010

Hints and Tips for Addressing Accommodations Issues for Peer Review

Information and examples that states can use in responding to accommodation criteria in the Standards and Assessment Peer Review process, and to address the need for continued improvement after …

Published: 2007-04-02

PARA Accessible Reading Assessment Reports: Disabilities and Reading: Understanding the Effects of Disabilities and Their Relationship to Reading Instruction and Assessment

A report providing common ground on the issues surrounding reading and students with various disabilities to facilitate discussion of accessible reading assessment. The information in this report …

Published: March 2009

PARA Accessible Reading Assessment Reports: Examining DIF, DDF, and Omit Rate by Discrete Disability Categories

A report describing a study of differential item functioning (DIF), differential distractor functioning (DDF), and differential omission frequency (DOF) for one third grade and one fifth grade …

Published: December 2007

PARA Accessible Reading Assessment Reports: What Do State Reading Test Specifications Specify?

A report examining state assessment blueprints or test specifications for state reading assessments. The No Child Left Behind Act requires all states to assess student reading, but each state is …

Published: June 2007

PARA Accessible Reading Assessment Reports: State Accommodations Policies: Implications for the Assessment of Reading

A report presenting the results of an analysis of the accommodations that are included in state accommodations policies and guidelines. The purpose of the analysis was to learn more about 10 …

Published: June 2006

NCEO Reports: Diploma Options, Graduation Requirements, and Exit Exams for Youth with Disabilities: 2017 National Study (#409)

This report presents the results of a study undertaken to update what is known about the status of graduation policies across the nation. Three research questions served as the focus of this …

Published: March 2019

School Leader Series: Supporting the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Assessment (School Leader Series Brief #1)

This resource is designed to provide guidance to school leaders about supporting the inclusion of students with disabilities in state and district content assessments. Developed in collaboration …

Published: 9/28/2021

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Gray Areas of Assessment Systems (#32)

A 2000 paper clarifying what is meant by "gray areas of assessment" systems, the primary issues that contribute to gray areas, and providing suggestions for developing fully inclusive systems.

Published: March 2000

NCEO Technical Reports: Accountability Systems and Counting Students with Disabilities (#29)

A report examining the extent to which students with disabilities were included in accountability systems of states in which there were high stakes for educational systems. This was the first such …

Published: December 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Effect of a Multiple Day Test Accommodation on the Performance of Special Education Students (#34)

This year 2000 report examines a multiple-day testing accommodation on reading performance of students with disabilities.

Published: December 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Initial Perceptions of English as a Second Language Educators on Including Students with Limited English Proficiency in Minnesota's High Standards (#33)

This year 2000 report examines educator perceptions and expectations of including English learners in Minnesota's High Standards.

Published: December 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Minnesota's Comprehensive Assessments: 1998 and 1999 Participation and Performance of Students with Disabilities (#32)

This year 2000 report examines the performance of students with disabilities on Minnesota's Comprehensive Assessments.

Published: December 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Bilingual Accommodations for Limited English Proficient Students on Statewide Reading Tests: Phase 2 (#31)

This year 2000 report examines a bilingual side-by-side test accommodation for English learners on a reading test.

Published: August 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Participation and Performance of Limited English Proficient Students During Second Attempts on a Graduation Exam (#28)

This year 2000 report examines the performance of English learners on Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests.

Published: June 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Factors Related to the Performance of LEP Students on Basic Standards Tests (#27)

This year 2000 report summarizes factors affecting English learner performance on Minnesota's state assessments.

Published: July 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Data on LEP students in State Education Reports (#26)

This year 2000 report summarizes the extent of states' public reporting of English learner data on state assessments.

Published: August 2000

NCEO Annual Performance Reports and State Performance Plans: 2005-2006 State Assessment Data

A report summarizing assessment data from State Performance Plans.

Published: April 2008

NCSET Issue Brief: Students with Disabilities who Drop Out of School: Implications for Policy and Practice

A brief that uses research-based information defining the problem of an unacceptably high dropout rate for students with disabilities and articulates proven intervention strategies. The brief …

Published: July 2002

NCSET Issue Brief: Accommodations for Students with Disabilities in High School

A brief addressing the issue that fewer students with disabilities in middle schools and high schools use accommodations than students with disabilities in elementary schools. The brief reviews …

Published: January 2002

NCEO Brief: Participation Guidelines for New Assessments: Thinking Through Their Development (#3)

A brief -- the third in a series for the Race to the Top Assessment Consortia -- addressing the need for the Consortia to develop shared assessment participation criteria for students with disabili…

Published: June 2011

NCEO Synthesis Reports: States' Participation Guidelines for Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards (AA-MAS) in 2010 (#82)

A report updating the information gathered by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) in previous reports. Since 2007, NCEO has annually compiled, analyzed, and summarized states' …

Published: May 2011

NCEO Brief: Understanding Subgroups in Common State Assessments: Special Education Students and ELLs (#4)

A brief -- the fourth in a series for the Race to the Top Assessment Consortia -- presenting information on the characteristics of special education students, English Language Learners (ELLs), and …

Published: July 2011

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Professional Development to Improve Accommodations Decisions - A Review of the Literature (#84)

A report summarizing the research literature for both professional development on accommodations decision making, and traditional and high-quality online teacher professional development. NCEO …

Published: August 2011

NCEO Technical Reports: 2008-09 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELLs with Disabilities (#59)

A report analyzing the public reporting of assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools in the United States; this is NCEO's 13th annual report on this subject. The Individuals …

Published: August 2011

PARA Accessible Reading Assessment Reports: Accommodations for State Reading Assessments: Policies Across the Nation

A report summarizing accommodation policies for the content area of reading. Because of the increase in the use of computer-based assessments, the authors also examined whether reading assessment …

Published: September 2011

NCEO Synthesis Reports: 2009 State Policies on Assessment Participation and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (#83)

A report updating information on the state policies on assessment participation and accommodations that NCEO has been tracking and analyzing since 1992. NCEO last reported this information on …

Published: September 2011

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Characteristics of States' Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards in 2010-2011 (#85)

A report tracking test design changes between the alternate assessment based on modified academic achievement standards (AA-MAS) and regular assessment, whether states' AA-MAS were computer-based, …

Published: September 2011

NCEO Brief: Performance of Special Education Students: Implications for Common State Assessments (#5)

A brief -- the fifth in a series for the Race to the Top Assessment Consortia -- presenting information on the performance of special education students, highlighting the range in performance of …

Published: January 2012

NCEO Technical Reports: Tennessee Special Education Teacher Survey: Training, Large-scale Testing, and TCAP-MAAS Administration (#61)

A report explaining how Tennessee developed an Alternate Assessment based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards called the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program-Modified Academic Achievem…

Published: January 2012

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2008-2009 APR Snapshot #1: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Special Education Students (#1)

This year 2012 report presents participation and performance data for students with disabilities in state assessments in reading and math in grade eight.

Published: January 2012

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2008-2009 APR Snapshot #2: Assessment Accommodations Use by Special Education Students (#2)

This year 2012 report presents accommodations data for students with disabilities in state reading and math tests for 2008-2009.

Published: January 2012

NCEO Technical Reports: An Evaluation of the Extent to Which Teachers Used the "IEP Quality Tutorial-South Dakota" After Training (#63)

A report discussing the use of the "IEP Quality Tutorial-South Dakota (IEPQ-SD)." During the 2010-2011 school year, the state of South Dakota piloted an online program called the "IEP Quality …

Published: April 2012

NCEO Technical Reports: Diploma Options, Graduation Requirements, and Exit Exams for Youth with Disabilities: 2011 National Study (#62)

A report documenting results from the fifth in a series of similar studies on state graduation policies and diploma options conducted by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). The …

Published: April 2012

NCEO Technical Reports: Characteristics of Low Performing Special Education and Non-Special Education Students on Large-Scale Assessments (#60)

A report investigating whether the characteristics of the lowest performing students in special education differ from the characteristics of the lowest performing students who are not in special …

Published: March 2012

NCEO Brief: Including Students with Disabilities in Common Non-Summative Assessments (#6)

A brief -- the sixth in a series for the Race to the Top Assessment Consortia -- addressing the Consortia's need to develop an inclusive approach to their non-summative assessments, including …

Published: July 2012

NCEO Technical Reports: Using Cognitive Labs to Evaluate Student Experiences with the Read-Aloud Accommodation in Math (#67)

A report describing a study of the read-aloud accommodation, which is frequently used on mathematics assessments. However, Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams often find it difficult to …

Published: September 2012

NCEO Technical Reports: Test Administrators' Perspectives on the Use of the Read Aloud Accommodation in Math on State Tests for Accountability (#66)

A report describing a study conducted by NCEO, in collaboration with the South Dakota Department of Education, that used focus group methodology to look closer at what happens in the room on test …

Published: October 2012

NCEO Technical Reports: A Summary of the Research on the Effects of Test Accommodations: 2009-2010 (#65)

A report providing an update on the state of the research on testing accommodations as well as identifying promising future areas of research. Previous reports by NCEO have covered research …

Published: November 2012

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Alternate Assessments Based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) Participation Policies (#88)

A report focusing on participation policies for alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS). Since 1992, NCEO has analyzed participation and accommodation policies for …

Published: December 2012

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2008-2009 APR Snapshot #3: AA-AAS Participation and Performance (#3)

This year 2012 report summarizes data for students participating in Alternate Assessments based on Alternate Achievement Standards in 2008-2009.

Published: December 2012

NCEO Synthesis Reports: States' Flexibility Plans for Phasing Out the Alternate Assessment Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards (AA-MAS) by 2014-15 (#89)

A report compiling, analyzing, and summarizing states' plans for phasing out the alternate assessment based on modified achievement standards (AA-MAS) in their approved waiver applications. The …

Published: March 2013

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2010-2011 APR Snapshot #4: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students Receiving Special Education Services (#4)

This year 2013 report summarizes data for students taking state assessments in reading and math used for federal accountability in 2010-2011.

Published: 2013

Assessment Principles and Guidelines for ELLs with Disabilities

A report detailing the work of an Institute project called Improving the Validity of Assessment Results for English Language Learners with Disabilities (IVARED) that has identified essential …

Published: 2013

Forum on Evaluating Educator Effectiveness: Critical Considerations for Including Students with Disabilities

A report summarizing the discussion at the Forum on Evaluating Educator Effectiveness held in June 2012 in Minneapolis. Thirty-six individuals representing a dozen states, four testing companies, …

Published: 2012

Lessons Learned in Federally Funded Projects that Can Improve the Instruction and Assessment of Low Performing Students with Disabilities

A report detailing the work of researchers from projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 2006-2007 under three funding sources (General Supervision Enhancement Grants, Enhanced …

Published: 2013

Fair and Equitable Grading for ALL Students in Inclusive Settings

Grading is a common practice in general education settings. Few teachers, however, are clear about how they should grade students with significant cognitive disabilities when those students are …

Published: 11/10/2021

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2010-2011 APR Snapshot #5: Assessment Accommodations Use by Students Receiving Special Education Services (#5)

This year 2013 report presents accommodation and performance data for students with disabilities on general tests in grades four and eight in 2010-2011.

Published: June 2013

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2010-2011 APR Snapshot #6: AA-AAS Participation and Performance (#6)

This year 2013 report presents participation and performance data of students taking alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards for 2010-2011.

Published: June 2013

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Accommodation Policies for States' Alternate Assessments based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) (#90)

A report focusing on accommodation policies for alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS). NCEO has analyzed participation and accommodation policies for students …

Published: July 2013

NCEO Newsletter: June 2013 Issue

An e-newsletter issue highlighting the whirlwind of changes affecting assessments - the CCSS, the assessment consortia, shifting assessment policies, flexibility waivers, and more - and how they …

Published: June 2013

Multi-Attribute Consensus Building Tool

A tool that can be used to help groups prioritize strategies, decisions, recommendations, or policies. It has been used by NCEO for over a decade and the use of the Multi-Attribute Consensus …

Published: September 2013

Forum on Addressing Performance Gaps of Low-performing Students: Implications for Assessment and Instruction

A report describing the facilitated discussions and the consensus reached at a forum on June 19, 2013, in National Harbor, Maryland, to discuss the performance gaps of low-performing students and …

Published: September 2013

NCEO State Surveys: 2012 Survey of States: Successes and Challenges During a Time of Change

A report providing a snapshot of new initiatives, trends, accomplishments, and emerging issues during this important period of education reform as states document the academic achievement of...

Published: September 2013

NCEO Synthesis Reports: 2012 State Policies for Accommodations Used to Deliver Assessments Orally (#91)

A report examining the wide variation across states in their accommodations policies for Human Reader, Text to Speech, and Pre-recorded Audio. The results of the analyses in the report can inform...

Published: August 2013; revised January 2014

NCEO Newsletter: October 2013 issue

An issue highlighting findings from the 2012 survey of states, information on two new NCEO products--a tool that groups can use to build consensus on a topic, and a report covering current state …

Published: October 2013

NCEO Technical Reports: 2010-11 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELLs with Disabilities (#68)

A report analyzing public reporting practices for assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools in the United States. This report, which is the fourteenth of its kind by the …

Published: September 2013

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities on State English Language Proficiency Assessments: A Review of 2011 State Policies

A report documenting states' participation and accommodation policies for English language learners (ELLs) with disabilities on their English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments. The states' …

Published: August 2013

Voices From the Field: Making State Assessment Decisions for English Language Learners With Disabilities

A report describing an activity undertaken by the Improving the Validity of Assessment Results for ELLs with Disabilities (IVARED) project, which is a consortium of the five states of Arizona,...

Published: 2013

1% Toolkit: Frequently Asked Questions on AA-AAAS (NCEO Tool #5)

The 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) 1.0% cap on state-level participation rates in the alternate assessment aligned to alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS) generated questions …

Published: September 2019

NCEO Reports: State Spotlights: Reducing AA-AAAS State-Level Participation Rates to Meet the 1.0% Threshold, 2016-17 to 2017-18 (#421)

This report highlights the work of states in the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) 1% Community of Practice (CoP) that reduced their alternate assessment participation rates from...

Published: July 2020

NCEO Brief: School Psychologists’ Role in Accommodations Decision Making (#32)

Students’ learning and achievement in schools are regularly monitored formally and informally through classroom, district, and state assessments. School psychologists have a specialized understandi…

Published: July 2023

Accommodations Considerations in Pre-College and Postsecondary Assessments for Deaf Individuals

This presentation focused on accommodations considerations in pre-college and postsecondary assessments for deaf individuals. It was presented at the 2019 Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) …

Published: 2019-01-30

NCEO Policy Directions: Successfully Transitioning from the AA-MAS to the General Assessment (#22)

A report exploring how federal policy initiatives such as the flexibility waivers for accountability are requiring that states transition away from the use of an alternate assessment based on …

Published: February 2014

NCEO Newsletter: February 2014 issue

An issue highlighting the findings from NCEO's Improving the Validity of Assessment Results for English Language Learners with Disabilities (IVARED) project that led focus groups with 232 school …

Published: February 2014

NCEO Brief: Considerations for Consortia as States Transition Away from AA-MAS (#7)

A brief addressing the need for consortia to assist their member states in moving away from the alternate assessment based on modified achievement standards (AA-MAS). It focuses on key consideratio…

Published: February 2014

NCEO Newsletter: June 2014 issue

An issue highlighting some of NCEO's recent work on the survey of states which will be sent in the fall of 2014, the transition from the alternate assessment based on modified achievement standards…

Published: June 2014

NCEO Brief: Participation of ELLs with Disabilities in ELP Assessments (#8)

A brief presenting information on what is known about the participation of English language learners (ELLs) with disabilities in state English language proficiency (ELP) assessments. It highlights...

Published: May 2014

NCEO Brief: State Assessment Decision-Making Processes for ELLs with Disabilities (#9)

A brief presenting information on what is known about assessment decision-making processes for English language learners (ELLs) with disabilities. It highlights information that has been collected …

Published: June 2014

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Test Security and Students with Disabilities: An Analysis of States' 2013-14 Test Security Policies (#95)

A report analyzing how accommodated tests, and students with disabilities and the assessments they take, are addressed in state test security policies -- a subject about which little is known. This...

Published: June 2014

PARA Accessible Reading Assessment Reports: Developing and Researching an Accessible Reading Assessment for Students with Disabilities

A report documenting the Partnership for Accessible Reading Assessment's (PARA) field test to determine the degree to which its accessible reading assessment provided for accessibility, validity, …

Published: May 2012

NCEO Technical Reports: 2011-12 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELLs with Disabilities (#69)

A report analyzing public reporting practices for assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools in the United States -- the 15th NCEO report to do so. The publication presents …

Published: July 2014

NCEO Brief: Exploring Alternate ELP Assessments for ELLs with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (#10)

A brief presenting information on what we know about the participation of English language learners (ELLs) with disabilities in state alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards...

Published: July 2014

Including Students who are Deaf or Hard-of-hearing in English Language Proficiency Assessments: A Review of State Policies

A report documenting participation and accommodation policies for English language learners (ELLs) who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing (HH) on English language proficiency (ELP) assessments used for Title...

Published: 2014

Including Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired in English Language Proficiency Assessments: A Review of State Policies

A report updating information on state participation and accommodations policies for English language learners (ELLs) who are Blind/Visually Impaired (VI) on English language proficiency (ELP)...

Published: August 2014

NCEO Synthesis Reports: 2013 State Policies for Selected Response Accommodations on Statewide Assessments (#93)

A report providing information on selected response accommodations (i.e., Human Scribe, Speech to Text, Audio Transcription, Grammar Checker, Spell Checker, Calculator) that were included in state …

Published: September 2014

NCEO Synthesis Reports: A Summary of the Research on the Effects of Test Accommodations, 2011-2012 (#94)

A report providing an update on the state of the research on testing accommodations as well as to identify promising future areas of research. Previous reports by NCEO have covered research …

Published: September 2014

NCEO Newsletter: October 2014 issue

An issue highlighting the launching of the 2014 NCEO Survey of States, summaries of two new reports on accommodations on English language proficiency assessments for low-incidence disabilities, …

Published: October 2014

NCEO Synthesis Reports: States' Flexibility Waiver Plans for Alternate Assessments Based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) (#96)

A report compiling, analyzing, and summarizing what states said about the Alternate Assessments Based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) in their waiver applications. The U.S. Department...

Published: 2014

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Graduation Policies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities Who Participate in States' AA-AAS (#97)

A report analyzing the graduation requirements and diploma options for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who participate in states' alternate assessments based on alternate …

Published: 2014

NCEO Newsletter: February 2015 issue

An issue highlighting findings from a recent National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) report on graduation requirements for students with significant cognitive disabilities who participate …

Published: February 2015

NCEO Policy Directions: Considerations When Including Students with Disabilities in Test Security Policies (#23)

A report concluding that assessments better measure what students know and can do when states and consortia thoughtfully consider how to balance test security and accessibility. Many states are …

Published: February 2015

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2011-2012 APR Snapshot #7: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students Receiving Special Education Services (#7)

This year 2014 report presents data on eighth grade students with disabilities taking general tests used for federal accountability in 2011-2012.

Published: December 2014

NCEO Data Analytics: Graduation Policies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities Who Participate in States' AA-AAS (#1)

An online, interactive brief presenting the results of NCEO's analysis of states' graduation policies for their students with significant cognitive disabilities who participate in the alternate …

Published: March 2015

NCEO Technical Reports: 2012-13 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELLs with Disabilities (#70)

A report analyzing public reporting practices for assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools in the United States. This report -- the 16th of its kind by the National Center on …

Published: May 2015

NCEO Newsletter: June 2015 issue

An issue providing a preview of the National Conference on Student Assessment pre-conference forum that NCEO is holding with the Assessing Special Education Students SCASS - Implementing Accessibil…

Published: June 2015

NCEO Brief: Making Accessibility Decisions for ALL Students (#11)

A Brief presenting information on steps to take in the transition from a focus on making decisions about accommodations for students with disabilities and English language learners (ELLs), to a …

Published: June 2015

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Graduation Policies for Students with Disabilities who Participate in States' General Assessments (#98)

A report detailing the results of states' 2014-15 requirements for students with disabilities who participate in the general assessment to earn a regular diploma, and comparing the requirements...

Published: July 2015

NCEO Data Analytics: 2012-13 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELLs with Disabilities (#2)

An interactive, online brief analyzing public reporting practices for assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools in the United States. This interactive brief is based on NCEO …

Published: August 2015

NCEO State Surveys: 2014 Survey of States: Initiatives, Trends, and Accomplishments

A report providing a snapshot of the new initiatives, trends, accomplishments, and emerging issues during this important period of education reform as states documented the academic achievement of …

Published: September, 2015

NCEO Newsletter: October 2015 issue

An issue providing a link to the new NCEO Web site, with many new topics and lots of new information, plus summaries of, and links to, several new NCEO products. Among them is the report on the …

Published: October 2015

NCEO State Surveys: State Special Education Outcomes 1991: A Report on State Activities in the Assessment of Educational Outcomes for Students with Disabilities

This is NCEO's first survey of states conducted in 1991 to address the needs of state directors, policymakers and others for information about current state activities.

Published: January 1992

NCEO State Surveys: State Special Education Outcomes 1992: A Report on State Activities in the Assessment of Educational Outcomes for Students with Disabilities

A report on NCEO's second survey of states conducted in 1992 to address the needs of state directors, policymakers and others for information about current state activities.

Published: March 1993

NCEO State Surveys: State Special Education Outcomes 1993: A Report on State Activities in the Assessment of Educational Outcomes for Students with Disabilities

This is NCEO's second survey of states conducted in 1993 to address the needs of state directors, policymakers and others for information about current state activities.

Published: March 1994

NCEO State Surveys: State Special Education Outcomes 1994: A Report on How States are Assessing Educational Outcomes for Students with Disabilities

A report on NCEO's survey of states conducted in 1993 to address the needs of state directors, policymakers and others for information about current state activities.

Published: March 1995

NCEO State Surveys: 1995 State Special Education Outcomes: Longitudinal Trends in How States are Assessing Educational Outcomes for Students with Disabilities

This report presents the results of the fifth annual survey of state activities in the assessment of educational outcomes for students with disabilities.

Published: April 1996

NCEO State Surveys: 1997 State Special Education Outcomes: A Report on State Activities During Educational Reform

This report presents the results of the sixth survey of state activities in the assessment of educational outcomes for students with disabilities conducted by NCEO since 1991.

Published: November 1997

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Assessing Educational Outcomes: State Activity and Literature Integration (#1)

The purpose of this 1991 document is to provide a synthesis of information that is available in the current literature in outcomes indicators in general, and research conducted in special education.

Published: July 1991

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Synthesis Report Update 1992: Policy Groups and Reports on Assessing Educational Outcomes (#2)

The purpose of this report is to provide an update to information presented in Synthesis Report #1.

Published: April 1992

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Responses to Working Paper 1 Conceptual Model of Educational Outcomes for Children and Youth with Disabilities (#3)

This synthesis paper represents the input of over 60 respondents to NCEO's Working Paper 1, "A Conceptual Model of Educational Outcomes for Children and Youth with Disabilities."

Published: June 1992

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: A Review of the Literature (#4)

This report is a review of literature (1993) pertaining to testing accommodations for people with disabilities.

Published: March 1993

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Can "All" Ever Really Mean "All" in Defining and Assessing Student Outcomes? (#5)

This report explores what what "all" means in defining student outcomes in educational assessment systems.

Published: March 1993

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Implications of Outcomes-Based Education for Children with Disabilities (#6)

This report discusses Outcomes-based education (OBE) and its implications for students with disabilities.

Published: April 1993

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Views on Inclusion and Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (#7)

This monograph represents the culmination of an effort to obtain expert opinions about the challenges of inclusion and accommodations, and presents papers written by experts in the field.

Published: September 1993

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Synthesis Report Update 1993: Recent Activities in National Goals, Standards, and Tests (#8)

This report updates major recent (1993) national initiatives in the areas of (a) the national education goals, (b) standards, and (c) national testing for students with disabilities.

Published: September 1993

NCEO Synthesis Reports: National Goals, National Standards, National Tests: Concerns for All (Not Virtually All) Students With Disabilities? (#11)

This report provides an analysis of inclusion as it relations to national goals, national standards, and national tests for students with disabilities.

Published: November 1993

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Implementation of Alternative Methods for Making Educational Accountability Decisions for Students with Disabilities (#12)

This report examines some of the issues and challenges in gathering data for purposes of making accountability decisions for students with disabilities (1994).

Published: March 1994

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Making Decisions About the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Large-Scale Assessments: A Report on a Working Conference to Develop Guidelines on Inclusion and Accommodations (#13)

This report is a summary of a meeting held in Washington, D.C. on March 9-10, 1994 on the challenges faced in making decisions about inclusion and accommodations for students with disabilities.

Published: April 1994

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Opportunity-to-Learn Standards (#14)

This report provides an overview of the use of the term "Opportunity to learn (OTL) standards in recent (1994) legislation, alternative perspectives on OTL standards, and state practices.

Published: July 1994

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Science Alternate Assessments based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) During School Year 2014-2015 (#99)

A report that analyzes the characteristics of states' science alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS)in 2014-2015.

Published: November 2015

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Recommendations for Making Decisions About the Participation of Students with Disabilities in Statewide Assessment Programs: A Report on a Working Conference to Develop Guidelines for Statewide Assessments and Students with Disabilities (#15)

This report is a summary of a meeting held in the Washington, DC area on May 17 and 18, 1994. This report proposes a set of recommendations for making participation and accommodation decisions.

Published: July 1994

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Synthesis Report Update 1994: Reports on the Status of Education, Desired Outcomes, and Reform Initiatives (#16)

This report examines national activities by highlighting 40 reports that reflect the array of reform initiatives underway in 1995.

Published: January 1995

NCEO Synthesis Reports: A Compilation of States' Guidelines for Including Students with Disabilities in Assessments (#17)

This report provides a listing of states' written guidelines on the participation of students with disabilities in assessments (1993).

Published: February 1995

NCEO Synthesis Reports: A Compilation of States' Guidelines for Accommodations in Assessments for Students with Disabilities (#18)

This report provides a listing of states' written guidelines on accommodations, modifications, and adaptations of assessments for students with disabilities (1993).

Published: March 1995

NCEO Synthesis Reports: A Perspective on Education and Assessment in Other Nations: Where Are Students with Disabilities? (#19)

The purpose of this 1995 report is to address the status of students with disabilities in international comparison assessments and in the assessments used in other nations.

Published: April 1995

NCEO Synthesis Reports: High School Graduation Requirements: What's Happening for Students with Disabilities? (#20)

This 1995 report examines documentation from state departments of education on high school graduation requirements for students in general, and for student with disabilities.

Published: May 1995

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Why We Can't Say Much About the Status of Students with Disabilities During Education Reform (#21)

This 1995 report synthesizes results of NCEO activities that focused on determining if analysis of data collection programs could produce policy-relevant reports on the status youth with disabilities.

Published: August 1995

NCEO Synthesis Reports: A Disability Perspective on Five Years of Education Reform (#22)

This report provides a summary of policy trends of the five years preceding 1995, focusing on the implications of policy shifts for the educational outcomes of students with disabilities.

Published: December 1995

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Questions and Answers: Tough Questions about Accountability Systems and Students with Disabilities (#24)

This 1996 report provides answers to some of the most commonly asked questions addressing the participation of students with disabilities in educational accountability systems.

Published: September 1996

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Assessment Guidelines that Maximize the Participation of Students with Disabilities in Large-Scale Assessments: Characteristics and Considerations (#25)

This 1996 report provides characteristics and considerations on assessment guidelines that maximize the participation of students with disabilities in large-scale assessments.

Published: October 1996

NCEO Synthesis Reports: High Stakes Testing for Students: Unanswered Questions and Implications for Students with Disabilities (#26)

This 1997 literature review looks at existing research on the effects of high stakes tests on students, with particular attention to students with disabilities.

Published: January 1997

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Issues and Considerations in Alternate Assessments (#27)

This 1997 report describes and discusses issues around the design of alternate assessments for students with disabilities.

Published: January 1997

NCEO Synthesis Reports: State Assessment Policies on Participation and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: 1997 Update (#29)

This 1997 report summarizes states' policies on the participation of students with disabilities in large-scale assessment, and the accommodations available for those students.

Published: September 1997

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Status of the States in the Development of Alternate Assessments (#31)

This 1999 report describes the results of an online survey to assess the status of states in the development of alternate assessments to be in place by July 1, 2000.

Published: April 1999

NCEO Data Analytics: Graduation Policies for Students with Disabilities Who Participate in States' General Assessments (#3)

A report presenting the results of a study looking at coursework and exit exam requirements for students with IEPs compared to students without IEPs. This relates to the larger issues of graduation…

Published: November 2015

NCEO Synthesis Reports: State Participation and Accommodation Policies for Students with Disabilities: 1999 Update (#33)

This 2000 report summarizes states' policies on the participation of students with disabilities in large-scale assessment, and the accommodations in state policies as available for those students.

Published: April 2000

White Paper on English Language Learners with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

This White Paper provides ELPA21 states with recommendations for ways to include their ELLs with the most significant cognitive disabilities in an assessment of their English language proficiency.

Published: January 2016

NCEO Reports: 2013-14 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELLs with Disabilities (#401)

This is the seventeenth report NCEO that describes how states publicly report online assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools in the United States.

Published: February 2016

NCEO Reports: Principles and Characteristics of Inclusive Assessment Systems in a Changing Assessment Landscape (#400)

This document is the fourth in a series of Principles documents produced by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). NCEO revisited and revised its 2008 Principles for inclusive...

Published: February 2016

NARAP Reports: Accessibility Principles for Reading Assessments

A report presenting evidence-based principles for making large scale assessments of reading proficiency more accessible for students who have disabilities that affect reading, while maintaining a …

Published: September 2009

TARA Reports: Students with Visual Impairments and Assistive Technology: Results from a Cognitive Interview Study in Five States

The purpose of this study was to better understand use of assistive technology in instruction and assessment by students with visual impairments. The aim was to gather information that would be …

Published: August 2009

TARA Reports: Survey of Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments: Students Served and Their Access to State Assessments of Reading

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of teachers on a number of aspects related to reading. This survey targeted specifically teachers of students with visual impairments ( …

Published: August 2009

TARA Reports: Field-based Perspectives on Technology Assisted Reading Assessments: Results of an Interview Study with Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVIs)

The purpose of this study was to gather information to inform the design and development of a technology-assisted reading assessment for students with visual impairments or blindness.

Published: August 2009

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Past and Present Understandings of Out-of-Level Testing: A Research Synthesis (#1)

This year 2000 report presents the historical background of out-of-level testing and addresses how it was studied, the rationale for its use, and missing information in the literature.

Published: May 2000

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: How Out-of-Level Testing Affects the Psychometric Quality of Test Scores (#2)

This year 2000 report presents a review and analysis of the psychometric literature on the topic of out-of-level testing.

Published: August 2000

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Test Publishers' Views on Out-of-Level Testing (#3)

This year 2000 report describes findings from a study conducted with test publishing companies on the topic of out-of-level testing.

Published: November 2000

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: States' Out-of-Level Testing Policies (#4)

This year 2001 report describes the out-of-level testing policies of 12 states that allow students with disabilities to test of out of level on large-scale assessments.

Published: June 2001

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Testing Students Out of Level in Large-Scale Assessments: What States Perceive and Believe (#5)

This year 2001 report describes a study conducted to capture state-level perspectives on out-of-level testing in states that allow this in their assessment policies.

Published: March 2001

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Test and Measurement Expert Opinions: A Dialogue About Testing Students with Disabilities Out of Level in Large-Scale Assessments (#6)

This year 2002 report summarizes the discussion of two focus groups composed of test and measurement experts held to address out-of-level testing concerns.

Published: March 2002

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: A Follow-Up Web-Based Survey: Test and Measurement Expert Opinions on the Psychometric Properties of Out-of-Level Tests (#7)

This year 2002 report summarizes the results of a web-based survey on out-of-level testing reflecting the perspective of test and measurement experts.

Published: July 2002

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Scale Score Comparability Across Two Levels of a Norm-Referenced Math Computation Test for Students with Learning Disabilities (#8)

This year 2002 report summarizes a small-scale comparability study of students with learning disabilities taking a norm-referenced test in math computation on grade level and out-of-level.

Published: March 2002

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Testing Students with Disabilities Out of Level: State Prevalence and Performance Results (#9)

This year 2003 report describes a study of three states' out-of-level participation and performance data.

Published: October 2003

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Reporting Out-of-Level Test Scores: Are These Students Included in Accountability Programs? (#10)

This year 2003 report describes the extent of out-of-level test scores being publicly reported in state accountability documents for years 1999-2001.

Published: October 2003

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Understanding Out-of-Level Testing in Local Schools: A First Case Study of Policy Implementation and Effects (#11)

This year 2004 report presents a case study in one local educational agency looking at specific effects of testing students with disabilities out-of-level.

Published: September 2004

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Understanding Out-of-Level Testing in Local Schools: A Second Case Study of Policy Implementation and Effects (#12)

This year 2004 report presents a second case study in a local educational agency looking at specific effects of testing students with disabilities out-of-level.

Published: September 2004

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Rapid Changes, Repeated Challenges: States' Out-of-Level Testing Policies for 2003-2004 (#13)

This year 2004 report compares a 2003-2004 policy review on out-of-level testing implementation in states with a prior 2000-2001 review.

Published: September 2004

NCEO Out-of-Level Testing Project Reports: Educators' Opinions About Out-of-Level Testing: Moving Beyond Perceptions (#15)

This year 2004 report documents the arguments given in favor of and against out-of-level testing among teachers and administrators.

Published: September 2004

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Input from the Field on Assessing Students with Disabilities in Minnesota's Basic Standards Exams (#1)

This year 1996 report summarizes survey data on the inclusion of students with disabilities in Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests.

Published: August 1996

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Input from the Field on Assessing Students with Limited English Proficiency in Minnesota's Basic Requirements Exams (#2)

This year 1996 report summarizes survey data on the inclusion of English learners in Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests.

Published: August 1996

NCEO Technical Reports: State Practices in the Assessment of Outcomes for Students with Disabilities (#1)

This year 1991 report provides survey results on what states and territories were doing related to outcomes assessment during the years of 1991 to 1995.

Published: October 1991

NCEO Technical Reports: Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in National and State Data Collection Programs (#2)

This year 1992 report summarizes the extent to which individuals with disabilities were represented in national and state data collection programs.

Published: March 1992

NCEO Data Analytics: State and National Demographic Information for English Learners (ELs) and ELs with Disabilities, 2012-13 (#4)

This interactive report presents data that states have submitted on the five languages most frequently used by English learners (ELs) in each state, the percent of identified ELs receiving...

Published: April 2016

White Paper on Common Accessibility Language for States and Assessment Vendors

This White Paper by DIAMOND project staff addresses the issue that different test platforms use different terminology for the accessibility features and accommodations that they offer to students, …

Published: June 2016

NCEO Reports: Principios y Características de Sistemas Inclusivos de Evaluación en un Escenario de Evaluación Cambiante (#400 Spanish)

This document is the fourth in a series of Principles documents produced by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). NCEO revisited and revised its 2008 Principles for inclusive...

Published: January 2016

NCEO Reports: A Summary of the Research on the Effects of Test Accommodations: 2013-2014 (#402)

This report provides an update on the state of the research on testing accommodations as well as to identify promising future areas of research. Previous reports by NCEO have covered research...

Published: May 2016

What Have We Learned About Student Characteristics, Accommodations, and AA-MAS?

The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) and a consortium of five states joined together to form the Multi-state GSEG Toward a Defensible Alternate Assessment Based on Modified...

Published: April 2010

NCEO Reports: 2015-16 High School Assessment Accommodations Policies: An Analysis of ACT, SAT, PARCC, and Smarter Balanced (#403)

This report provides a snapshot of how accommodations were included in policies across ACT, SAT, PARCC, and Smarter Balanced during the 2015-16 school year.

Published: July 2016

Training Guide for Minnesota Manual of Accommodations for Students with Disabilities in Instruction and Assessment: A Guide to Selecting, Administering, and Evaluating the Use of Accommodations

This training guide is designed as a companion to the Minnesota Manual of Accommodations for Students with Disabilities in Instruction and Assessment and the Procedures Manual for the Minnesota …

Published: August 2009

Minnesota Manual of Accommodations for Students with Disabilities in Instruction and Assessment: A Guide to Selecting, Administering, and Evaluating the Use of Accommodations

This manual presents a five-step process for Individualized Educational Program (IEP) teams, 504 Plan committees, general and special education teachers, administrators, and district level...

Published: August 2009

NCEO Technical Reports: Experts' Opinions on National Math Standards for Students with Disabilities (#3)

This year 1992 report presents survey results on national math standards and students with disabilities with eleven experts in mathematics education, special education and assessment.

Published: September 1992

NCEO Technical Reports: Experts' Opinions about the Appropriateness and Feasibility of National Math Standards (#4)

This year 1993 report presents survey results on the appropriateness and feasibility of the National Math Standards in relation to instruction of students with disabilities.

Published: February, 1993

NCEO Technical Reports: IEPs and Standards: What They Say for Students with Disabilities (#5)

This year 1993 report presents a study comparing the IEPs of students with mild disabilities to national and locally defined standards for mathematics.

Published: May 1993

NCEO Technical Reports: The Identification of People With Disabilities in National Databases: A Failure to Communicate (#6)

This year 1993 report presents an analysis of how people with disabilities were identified in 19 national databases and provides suggestions for improvement.

Published: September 1993

NCEO Technical Reports: Matching Information in National Data Collection Programs to a Model of School Completion Outcomes and Indicators (#7)

This year 1994 report compares information in national data collection programs with NCEO's Outcomes and Indicators for Students Completing School and provides recommendations.

Published: January 1994

NCEO Technical Reports: Matching State Goals to a Model of School Completion Outcomes and Indicators (#9)

This year 1994 report presents a conceptual model of school completion indicators developed by NCEO and stakeholders and compares identified indicators to models developed by states.

Published: February 1994

NCEO Data Analytics: Number and Percentage of Students with Disabilities by Disability Category from 2005-06 to 2020-21 (#17)

This interactive report presents information on the percentage of students with disabilities ages 6-17, and the percentage of these students by category for school years 2005-06 to 2020-21. …

Published: April 2023

NCEO Reports: 2021-22 Participation Guidelines and Definitions for Alternate Assessments Based on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (#440)

This report provides an update to previous analyses of the guidelines, definitions, and criteria states have developed for making decisions about alternate assessment based on alternate academic …

Published: June 2023

NCEO Technical Reports: Secondary Analysis of State Assessment Data: Why We Can't Say Much About Students with Disabilities (#10)

This year 1994 report summarizes NCEO's attempt at producing a report on the status of students with disabilities from the secondary analysis of state collected achievement data.

Published: August 1994

NCEO Technical Reports: Matching Information in National Data Collection Programs to a Model of Post-School Outcomes and Indicators (#17)

This year 1995 report describes the extent of correspondence on post-school outcomes between national data collection programs and the National Center on Educational Outcomes' model of outcomes.

Published: October 1995

NCEO Technical Reports: An Analysis of State Approaches to Including Students with Disabilities in Assessments Implemented During Educational Reform (#18)

This year 1997 report evaluates states' policies on the inclusion, accommodations and reporting of students with disabilities in statewide assessments.

Published: September 1997

NCEO Technical Reports: An Analysis of Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in State Standards Documents (#19)

This year 1998 report reviews state accountability documents from 48 states and Washington DC, specifically analyzing how students with disabilities are represented, and provides recommendations.

Published: January 1998

NCEO Technical Reports: State Accountability Reports: What are States Saying about Students with Disabilities? (#20)

This year 1998 report reviews state accountability documents from 48 states and Washington DC, specifically analyzing how students with disabilities are represented, and provides recommendations.

Published: May 1998

NCEO Technical Reports: An Analysis of Perceived Desirability, Feasibility, and Actual Use of Specific Criteria for Large-Scale Assessment and Accountability Systems (#21)

This year 1998 report describes national survey results on the desirability, feasibility and use of criteria for large-scale assessment and accountability systems for students with disabilities.

Published: July 1998

NCEO Technical Reports: Desired Characteristics for State and School District Educational Accontability Reports (#22)

This year 1998 report presents a study of stakeholders' views of desirable characteristics of performance reports for all students, including students with disabilities, and gives recommendations.

Published: November 1998

NCEO Technical Reports: Educational Results for Students with Disabilities: What Do the Data Tell Us? (#23)

This year 1998 report presents an analysis of state performance reports, focusing on how students with disabilities are doing nationally on assessments of academic content and nonacademic measures.

Published: December 1998

NCEO Technical Reports: State Graduation Requirements for Students With and Without Disabilities (#24)

This year 1999 report documents graduation requirements based on a survey study of assessment directors of 50 states and the District of Columbia for students with and without disabilities.

Published: April 1999

NCEO Policy Directions: Guidelines for Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Large-Scale Assessments (#1)

This year 1994 report makes recommendations for guidelines and monitoring practices that promote the full participation of students with disabilities in large-scale assessment programs.

Published: May 1994

NCEO Policy Directions: Students with Disabilities and Educational Standards: Recommendations for Policy and Practice (#2)

This year 1994 report describes types of education standards and summarizes issues in applying these standards to all students, including students with disabilities.

Published: May 1994

NCEO Policy Directions: Educational Accountability for Students with Disabilities (#3)

This year 1994 report outlines steps educators can take towards an inclusive accountability system with consistent procedures for all students, including students with disabilities.

Published: November 1994

NCEO Policy Directions: Opportunity to Learn Standards (#4)

This year 1995 report gives recommendations on reasonably including students with disabilities in opportunity-to-learn standards.

Published: January 1995

NCEO Policy Directions: Alternate Assessments for Students with Disabilities (#5)

This year 1996 report describes options for developing alternate assessments for students unable to participate in district and state assessments used for accountability purposes.

Published: October 1996

NCEO Policy Directions: Increasing the Participation of Students with Disabilities in State and District Assessments (#6)

This year 1997 report identifies considerations and makes recommendations for increasing the participation of students with disabilities in state and district assessments.

Published: May 1997

NCEO Policy Directions: Providing Assessment Accommodations for Students with Disabilities in State and District Assessments (#7)

This year 1997 report identifies issues to address in facilitating the provision of appropriate accommodations in state and district assessments.

Published: June 1997

NCEO Policy Directions: Reporting Educational Results for Students with Disabilities (#8)

This year 1997 report emphasizes the importance of public reporting of results for students with disabilities and summarizes principles of good reporting practices.

Published: July 1997

NCEO Policy Directions: Out-of-Level Testing: Pros and Cons (#9)

This year 1999 report gives the history and arguments for and against the use of out-of-level testing and identifies key issues to consider before implementing this policy.

Published: April 1999

NCEO Policy Directions: Diploma Options and Graduation Policies for Students with Disabilities (#10)

This year 2000 report identifies key issues to answer on graduation policies for students with disabilities and provides suggestions for fair and inclusive diploma options and policies.

Published: January 2000

NCEO Policy Directions: Non-Approved Accommodations: Recommendations for Use and Reporting (#11)

This year 2000 report is intended to help states and districts address the use and reporting of data from assessments taken with non-approved accommodations.

Published: May 2000

NCEO Policy Directions: Recommendations for Addressing Standards and Assessments on State and District IEP Forms (#12)

This year 2001 report makes recommendations for IEPs to reflect high standards-based goals and services for students with disabilities.

Published: March 2001

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2013-2014 APR Snapshot #10: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students Receiving Special Education Services (#10)

This report provides a snapshot of the participation and performance of student receiving special education services in statewide assessments used for ESEA) accountability.

Published: August 2016

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Focus Group Input on Students with Disabilities and Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests (#3)

This year 1996 report summarizes focus group input on the participation of students with disabilities on Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests.

Published: August 1996

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Guidelines from States with Graduation Exams (#5)

This year 1996 report reviews state accommodation policies for students with disabilities on high stakes tests.

Published: August 1996

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Accommodations for Students with Limited English Proficiency: Analysis of Guidelines from States with Graduation Exams (#6)

This year 1996 report reviews high stakes graduation testing guidelines and summarizes accommodation trends for English learners.

Published: August 1996

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Resources: Students with Disabilities in National and Statewide Assessments (#7)

This year 1996 report provides an annotated review of the literature on issues in assessing students with disabilities.

Published: August 1996

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Resources: Limited English Proficient Students in National and Statewide Assessments (#8)

This year 1996 report provides an annotated review of the literature on issues in assessing English learners.

Published: August 1996

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: A Review of the Literature on Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (#9)

This year 1996 report reviews literature on testing accommodations for students with disabilities.

Published: August 1996

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Input from the Field on the Participation of Students with Limited English Proficiency and Students with Disabilities in Meeting the High Standards of Minnesota's Profile of Learning (#10)

This year 1996 report summarizes educator input on the participation of English learners and students with disabilities in Minnesota's Profile of Learning classroom assessments.

Published: August 1996

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: A Review of the Literature on Students with Limited English Proficiency and Assessment (#11)

This year 1997 report reviews literature on best practices for assessing English learners.

Published: August 1997

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: High School Graduation Requirements in the U.S. for Students with Limited English Proficiency (#13)

This year 1997 report examines graduation requirements for the 50 states and summarizes how these policies apply to English learners.

Published: September 1997

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Special Education Teacher Responses to the 1997 Basic Standards Testing (#14)

This 1997 report examines the participation and accommodations decision-making for students with disabilities on the Minnesota Basic Standards Test.

Published: September 1997

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Educators' Responses to LEP Students' Participation in the 1997 Basic Standards Testing (#15)

This year 1997 report examines participation and accommodations decision-making for English learners on Minnesota's Basic Standards Test.

Published: October 1997

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, Spanish-Speaking, and Vietnamese Parents and Students Speak Out on Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests (#12)

This year 1997 report summarizes views of English learners and their parents on participation in Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests.

Published: May 1997

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Participation and Performance of Students with Disabilities: Minnesota's 1996 Basic Standards Tests in Reading and Math (#16)

This year 1998 report summarizes the participation and performance of students with disabilities on Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests in 1996.

Published: October 1998

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Participation and Performance of Students from non-English Language Backgrounds: Minnesota's 1996 Basic Standards Tests in Reading and Math (#17)

This year 1999 report summarizes data for students from non-English language backgrounds taking Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests in 1996.

Published: January 1999

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Participation and Performance of Students Receiving Special Education Services on Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests: Reading and Math, 1996 through 1998 (#18)

This year 1999 report summarizes data for students with disabilities on Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests from 1996 to 1998.

Published: April 1999

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Limited English Proficient Students' Participation and Performance on Statewide Assessments: Minnesota Basic Standards Reading and Math, 1996-1998 (#19)

This year 1999 report summarizes data for English learners taking the Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests from 1996 to 1998.

Published: September 1999

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Participation and Performance of Limited English Proficient Students: Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in Reading and Math, 1998-99 (#24)

This year 2000 report summarizes data for English learners taking Minnesota's Comprehensive Assessments in 1998-1999.

Published: January 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: 1999 Report on the Participation and Performance of Limited English Proficient Students on Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests (#30)

This year 2000 report builds on previous reports examining the participation and performance rates of LEP eighth grade students on Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests. This report covers the testing …

Published: August 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: 1999 Report on the Participation and Performance of Students with Disabilities on Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests (#29)

This year 2000 report examines the participation and performance of students with disabilities on the Basic Standards Tests since the first statewide administration in 1996, across grades 8 …

Published: July 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Student Perspectives on the Use of Accommodations on Large-scale Assessments (#35)

A report from the past Minnesota Assessment Project, a federally funded effort awarded to the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning from the U.S. Department of Education, Office …

Published: December 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Unintended Consequences of the Minnesota Basic Standards Tests: Do the Data Answer the Questions Yet? (#23)

This year 2000 report reviews the effects of statewide testing policies in published research compared to local level perceptions.

Published: January 2000

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Initial Perceptions of Educators as They Work Toward Including Students with Disabilities in Minnesota's High Standards (#25)

This year 2000 report examines educator perceptions on including students with disabilities in Minnesota's High Standards.

Published: July 2000

NCEO Maryland/Kentucky State Assessment Project: A Comparison of State Assessment Systems in Maryland and Kentucky with a focus on the participation of students with disabilities (#1)

A report from the past Maryland-Kentucky-NCEO Assessment Project, a federally funded effort supported, in part, by a grant to the Maryland State Department of Education.

Published: November 1996

NCEO Maryland/Kentucky State Assessment Project: Reporting School Performance in the Maryland and Kentucky Accountability Systems: What Scores Mean and How They Are Used (#2)

A report from the past Maryland-Kentucky-NCEO Assessment Project, a federally funded effort supported, in part, by a grant to the Maryland State Department of Education.

Published: September 1997

NCEO Maryland/Kentucky State Assessment Project: Characteristics of Students Who Participate in Kentucky's Testing System Under Various Conditions (#4)

A report from the past Maryland-Kentucky-NCEO Assessment Project, a federally funded effort supported, in part, by a grant to the Maryland State Department of Education.

Published: August 1999

NCEO Maryland/Kentucky State Assessment Project: Instructional and Assessment Accommodations in Maryland (#6)

A report from the past Maryland-Kentucky-NCEO Assessment Project, a federally funded effort supported, in part, by a grant to the Maryland State Department of Education.

Published: December 1999

NCEO Maryland/Kentucky State Assessment Project: Instructional and Assessment Accommodations in Kentucky (#7)

A report from the past Maryland-Kentucky-NCEO Assessment Project, a federally funded effort supported, in part, by a grant to the Maryland State Department of Education.

Published: January 2000

Accommodations and the Performance of All Students on Rhode Island's Performance Assessment (Rhode Island Report 1)

A report from the past Rhode Island Assessment Project, a federally funded effort.

Published: June 1999

Accountability for the Results of Educating Students with Disabilities: Assessment Conference Report on the New Assessment Provisions of the 1997 Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

A year 1998 conference report on the assessment provisions of the 1997 Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Published: April 1998

Forum on Common Language for States and Assessment Vendors

A report on a forum held on June 20, 2016 in Philadelphia that brought together states, assessment vendors, and other educational stakeholders to address the need for developing a common language …

Published: August 2016

CCSSO Accessibility Manual: How To Select, Administer, And Evaluate Use Of Accessibility Supports For Instruction And Assessment Of All Students

The Council of Chief State School Officers' (CCSSO's) Accessibility Manual: How to Select, Administer, and Evaluate Use of Accessibility Supports for Instruction and Assessment of All Students …

Published: August 2016

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Bilingual Accommodations for Limited English Proficient Students on Statewide Reading Tests: Phase 1 (#20)

This year 1999 report examines the feasibility and desirability of offering English learners a reading test with bilingual test items and answer choices.

Published: October 1999

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Feasibility and Practicality of a Decision Making Tool for Standards Testing of Students with Disabilities (#21)

This year 1999 report summarizes a feasibility and practicality study for a decision-making tool for testing students with disabilities.

Published: December 1999

NCEO Minnesota Assessment Project Reports: Feasibility and Practicality of a Decision Making Tool for Standards Testing of Students with Limited English Proficiency (#22)

This year 1999 report describes an accommodation decision-making tool for educators and examines the tool's feasibility.

Published: December 1999

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2011-2012 APR Snapshot #9: AA-AAS Participation and Performance (#9)

This report summarizes Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) data used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) accountability.

Published: June 2016

Accountability for the Results of Educating Students with Disabilities

This report from 1998 describes the findings of a conference NCEO convened to define issues and develop recommendations related to state and district-wide assessments and accountability needed to …

Published: April 1998

Forum on Alternate Assessment and "Gray Area" Assessment

This year 1999 report presents the proceedings of a pre-conference session at the National Conference on Large-Scale Assessment that took place June 1999, where consensus emerged that it is not …

Published: July 1999

Self-Study Guide for the Development of Statewide Assessments that Include Students with Disabilities

This year 1996 self-study guide is designed to help state education agency (SEA) staff evaluate and revise their assessment policies and procedures in a way that promotes the participation of all …

Published: 1996

NCEO Framework for Educational Accountability

This 1998 paper describes a revised framework for educational accountability, which started with outcomes and indicators. The revised framework can be adapted for system-wide or individual accounta…

Published: May 1998

NCEO Framework for Educational Accountability: Post-School Outcomes

This 1998 document extends the NCEO Framework for Educational Accountability, focusing on outcomes and indicators for the post-school individual, and examines the relationship between these …

Published: October 1998

Educational Policy Reform Research Institute Reports: Topical Review Three: Reporting on the State Assessment Performance of Students with Disabilities (#3)

The purpose of this year 2001 topical review is to provide a comprehensive account of reporting the performance of students with disabilities on state assessments.

Published: December 2001

Educational Policy Reform Research Institute Reports: Topical Review Five: Preparing Educators to Teach Students with Disabilities in an Era of Standards-based Reform and Accountability (#5)

This year 2003 topical review addresses the knowledge and skills needed by teachers to effectively promote the achievement of students with disabilities within the current era of standards-based …

Published: July 2003

Educational Policy Reform Research Institute Reports: Topical Review Eight: The Role of Accommodations in Educational Accountability Systems (#8)

This year 2005 topical review addresses the use of accommodations for students with disabilities on state-wide tests and their implications for educational accountability systems.

Published: December 2005

Educational Policy Reform Research Institute Reports: Profiles of Reform: Four States' Journeys to Implement Standards-Based Reform with Students with Disabilities

This year 2007 report is a synthesis of research conducted in four states and eight districts by the Educational Policy Reform Research Institute (EPRRI) to investigate and describe the impact of …

Published: March 2007

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2011-2012 APR Snapshot #8: Assessment Accommodations Use by Students Receiving Special Education Services (#8)

This report provides a snapshot of the participation and performance of student receiving special education services in statewide assessments used for ESEA) accountability.

Published: May 2016

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2013-2014 APR Snapshot #11: Assessment Accommodations Use by Students Receiving Special Education Services (#11)

This report provides a snapshot of the participation and performance of student receiving special education services in statewide assessments used for ESEA) accountability.

Published: September 2016

NCEO Reports: Status of State-Defined Alternate Diplomas in 2018-19 (#416)

The purpose of this report is to summarize the status of state-defined alternate diplomas in the 50 U.S. states three years after the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA) indicated that …

Published: September 2019

Improving Instruction Briefs: Building Successful Communication Between Parent or Guardian and Teacher: Information for Parents or Guardians (Arabic translation)

This Brief, translated into Arabic, explains how parents or guardians of students who are English learners can develop successful communication with teachers. Good parent-educator communication is …

Published: June 2020

NCEO Newsletter: October 2016 issue

This issue highlights the news of NCEO's continued funding. It also summarizes several new reports. These include a report on the pre-session to the National Conference on Student Assessment, a...

Published: October 2016

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2013-2014 APR Snapshot #12: AA-AAS Participation and Performance (#12)

This report provides information on the number of students participating in the Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) and the performance of those students.

Published: October 2016

Literature on Early Literacy Instruction in Four Languages (Chinese, Korean, Navajo, Russian)

This year 2003 report reviews literature on evidence-based research for teaching reading to Chinese, Korean, Navajo, and Russian children.

Published: October 2003

Considerations for Developing State-Defined Alternate Diplomas for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

This Brief describes the criteria that must be met for a State-defined alternate diploma to meet federal requirements for inclusion in the Title I Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR).

Published: November 2016

NCEO Reports: Providing English Language Development Services to English Learners with Disabilities: Approaches to Making Exit Decisions (NCEO Report 404)

The purpose of this report is to provide a baseline report, prior to the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act, on factors that affect decisions to exit English learners (ELs) with disabilities...

Published: January 2017

Informe sobre el desarrollo de un lenguaje común de la accesibilidad para los estados y proveedores de evaluaciones

Spanish translation of the report, "White Paper on Common Accessibility Language for States and Assessment Vendors."

Published: February 2017

Testimony of Martha Thurlow, Director, National Center on Educational Outcomes Before the Committee on Education and the Workforce, United States House of Representatives

This testimony was presented at the Hearing on NCLB and the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in the Accountability and Assessment Systems, before the Committee on Education and the Workforce…

Published: 2004-03-03

NCEO Data Analytics: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students with IEPs 2013-2014 (#5)

This interactive report presents data on the participation and performance of student receiving special education services in statewide assessments used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act...

Published: February 2017

Preparing for Life After High School: The Characteristics and Experiences of Youth in Special Education. Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012. Volume 1: Comparisons with Other Youth: Full Report

A report from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 (NLTS 2012). The NLTS 2012, which is part of the congressionally-mandated National Assessment of the Individuals with Disabilities...

Published: 2017

Preparing for Life After High School: The Characteristics and Experiences of Youth in Special Education. Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012. Volume 2: Comparisons Across Disability Groups: Full Report

A report from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 (NLTS 2012); a second report, Volume 1, also relates to this study. The NLTS 2012, which is part of the congressionally-mandated …

Published: 2017

NCEO Brief: Strategies for Meeting the 1% State-level Cap on Participation in the Alternate Assessment (#12)

The purpose of this Brief is to assist states in identifying strategies to use to meet the state 1% cap on participation in the alternate assessment.

Published: April 2017

NCEO Reports: 2014-15 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELs with Disabilities (#405)

This is the eighteenth report by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) that describes how states publicly report online assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools...

Published: May 2017

Forum on Text Readers for Everyone on All Tests: Getting a Handle on What This Means

A report on a forum held on June 27, 2017 in Austin, TX that brought together staff representing state departments of education, school districts, testing and testing-related companies, and other …

Published: August 2017

NCEO Brief: Meeting the Needs of ELs with Disabilities in Your State: Making EL Exit Decisions (#13)

The purpose of this Brief is to highlight the numbers and characteristics of English learners (ELs) with disabilities and current decision-making processes for exiting these students from EL …

Published: September 2017

NCEO State Surveys: 2016 Survey of States: State Activities Amid Evolving Educational Policies

A report providing a snapshot of the new initiatives, trends, accomplishments, and emerging issues during a period of new education laws and initiatives. This is the fifteenth such survey of …

Published: September 2017

Educators' Experiences With and Attitudes Toward Accessibility Features and Accommodations

A report from the DIAMOND project that explores the results of an online survey about educators' familiarity with and attitudes toward accessibility features and accommodations.

Published: September 2017

Instructing and Assessing English Learners with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

The purpose of this report is to identify an evidence base on best practices in English language arts instruction for English learners (ELs) with significant cognitive disabilities whose family may...

Published: September, 2015

NCEO Reports: Alternate Assessments for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities: Participation Guidelines and Definitions (#406)

This report documents the status of states' assessment participation guidelines and definitions of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities that were in place just prior to the …

Published: December 2017

Preparing for Life After High School: The Characteristics and Experiences of Youth in Special Education, Volume 3: Comparisons Over Time

A report from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 (NLTS 2012); two earlier reports, Volumes 1 and 2, also relate to this study. The NLTS 2012, which is part of the...

Published: 2018

NCEO Brief: Using Local Assessment Data to Measure Progress Toward the State-Identified Measurable Result (SIMR) (#14)

The purpose of this Brief is to outline key strategies for the collection, analysis, and use of local assessment data to monitor progress toward the (State-Identified Measurable Result)SIMR.

Published: February 2018

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2014-2015 APR Snapshot #13: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students Receiving Special Education Services (#13)

This report provides a snapshot of the participation and performance of student receiving special education services in statewide assessments used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)...

Published: May 2017

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2014-2015 APR Snapshot #14: Assessment Accommodations Use by Students Receiving Special Education Services (#14)

This report provides information on the number and performance of students with disabilities using accommodations on the general statewide assessment used for ESEA accountability.

Published: July 2017

Data Informed Accessibility: A Review of the Literature

The purpose of this literature review is to: (a) summarize the shift that has occurred in approaches to accessibility in testing (including the paradigm shift of what accessibility for all students…

Published: September 2017

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2014-2015 APR Snapshot #15: AA-AAS Participation and Performance (#15)

This report summarizes AA-AAS data used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) accountability. Using federally submitted data from the 2014-2015 school year, we present information on …

Published: November 2017

Educators' Perspectives on Classroom Implementation of Accessibility Features and Accommodations

A report from the DIAMOND project on phone interviews conducted with educators to highlight effective practices being used to implement accessibility features and accommodations in their classrooms.

Published: May 2018

NCEO Data Analytics: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students with IEPs, 2014-2015 (#6)

This interactive report presents data on the participation and performance of students receiving special education services in statewide assessments used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act...

Published: June 2018

NCEO Data Analytics: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students with IEPs, 2015-2016 (#7)

This interactive report presents data on the participation and performance of students receiving special education services in statewide assessments used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act...

Published: July 2018

NCEO Reports: 2015-16 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELs with Disabilities (#407)

This is the nineteenth report by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) that describes how states publicly report online assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools...

Published: July 2018

NCEO Reports: A Review of the Literature on Measuring English Language Proficiency Progress of English Learners with Disabilities and English Learners (#408)

The purpose of this literature review was to identify evidence-based practices used (or recommended for use) to measure progress of English learners (ELs) with disabilities on English language...

Published: July 2018

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2015-2016 APR Snapshot #16: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students Receiving Special Education Services (#16)

This report provides a snapshot of the participation and performance of students receiving special education services in statewide assessments used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA …

Published: July 2018

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2015-2016 APR Snapshot #18: AA-AAS Participation and Performance (#18)

This report summarizes Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) data used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) accountability to measure the academic …

Published: July 2018

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2015-2016 APR Snapshot #17: Students in Special Education Receiving Assessment Accommodations (#17)

This report provides information on the number of students with disabilities receiving accommodations and the performance of these students on the general statewide assessment used for Elementary …

Published: July 2018

NCEO Reports: 2016-17 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELs with Disabilities (#411)

This is the 20th report by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) that describes how states publicly report assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools in the United …

Published: October 2019

School Leader Series: Understanding the Consequences of Assessment Participation Decisions for Students with Disabilities (School Leader Series Brief #2)

This resource is designed to provide guidance to school leaders about understanding the consequences of assessment participation decisions for students with disabilities. Developed in collaboration…

Published: 9/28/2021

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2016-2017 APR Snapshot #21: AA-AAS Participation and Performance (#21)

This report summarizes Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) data used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) accountability to measure the academic …

Published: July 2019

TIES Center Reports: Using Systems Change Efforts to Implement and Sustain Inclusive Education Practices in General Education Settings for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities: A Review of the Literature (#102)

This report presents the findings from a literature review that examined how systems change efforts can guide initiatives to increase and sustain the placement of students with the most significant…

Published: June 2019

Planning for Successfully Including and Accommodating Your Students in Assessments

This presentation addresses how to plan successfully to include and accommodate your students in assessments. It was presented at the 2019 Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) annual conference.

Published: 2019-02-02

NCEO Data Analytics: 2016-17 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELs with Disabilities (#11)

This interactive report presents data on public reporting practices for assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools in the United States.

Published: 2020-01-06

Improving Instruction Briefs: Accessibility Features and Accommodations: Information for Parents or Guardians (Traditional Chinese translation)

This Brief, translated into Traditional Chinese, explains accessibility features and accommodations for parents or guardians of students who are English learners, and also provides guidance on how …

Published: June 2020

1% Toolkit: Reasons Why Students with Disabilities Should Take State Tests: A Customizable Template for a Flyer for Parents and Families (NCEO Tool #9)

This resource was developed by NCEO to identify and describe reasons why students with disabilities should take state tests. The purpose of the tool is to provide a concise resource that administra…

Published: January 2021

1% Toolkit: Start with the End in Mind: An Infographic to Guide Decisions about Student Participation in the Alternate Assessment (NCEO Tool #7)

This Infographic to Guide Decisions about Student Participation in the Alternate Assessment tool is designed to provide guidance about IEP team decision making for a student’s participation in the …

Published: May 2020

Pros and Cons of Alternate Diplomas: Benefits for Student Transition Success?

This presentation describes the pros and cons of alternate diplomas, focusing on possible benefits for students to have successful transition experiences. It was presented at the 2019 Council for …

Published: 2019-01-30

What New Special Education Directors Need to Know about Academic Assessments

The purpose of this toolkit is to provide easy access to information that will help special education directors fulfill their role in ensuring the participation of students with disabilities in …

Published: June 2022

Improving Instruction Briefs: Building Successful Communication Between Teacher and Parent or Guardian: Information for Teachers

This Brief for teachers answers questions about communicating with parents or guardians for whom communicating in English is a challenge. Good parent-educator communication is key to determining …

Published: December 2019

Hearing on ESEA Reauthorization: Standards and Assessments

This testimony was presented at a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) United States Senate Hearing.

Published: 2010-04-28

Youth and Parent Participation in Transition Planning in the U.S.A.: Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 (NLTS 2012)

The purpose of this study was to use data from the United States' National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 (NLTS 2012) to present descriptive information on youth and parent participation and …

Published: 2022

Student Demonstrations of their Use of Accessibility Features and Accommodations

This report presents information from a study by the Data Informed Accessibility—Making Optimal Needs-based Decisions (DIAMOND) project that examined classroom use of accessibility features and …

Published: June 2019

NCEO Reports: 2017-18 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and English Learners with Disabilities (#419)

This is the 21st report by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) that describes how states publicly report assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools in the United …

Published: December 2020

NCEO Brief: Alternate Interim Assessments for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (#23)

This Brief offers preliminary guidance for the development of interim assessment options for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. There are federal requirements that all...

Published: May 2021

NCEO Reports: Students with Disabilities in Educational Policy, Practice, and Professional Judgment: What Should We Expect? (#413)

This report provides a cross-disciplinary look at educational policy, practice, and law related to expectations for students with disabilities. It addresses three questions critical to a discussion…

Published: May 2019

IEPs for Students Who Participate in the Alternate Assessment

This presentation, focusing on IEPs for students who participate in the alternate assessment, was presented at the Ohio OCALICON autism and disabilities international conference.

Published: 2020-11-11

NCEO Brief: Understanding the Characteristics of English Learners with Disabilities to Meet Their Needs During State and Districtwide Assessments (#24)

The purpose of this Brief is to highlight available federal data about the characteristics of English learners with disabilities, including how the population has changed over time. Understanding …

Published: 10/26/2021

Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Parents or Guardians (Arabic translation)

This Brief, translated into Arabic, answers questions about working with a language interpreter that parents or guardians of students who are English learners might have. Clear, comprehensible …

Published: June 2020

School Leader Series: What School Leaders Need to do Before, During, and After the Assessment Window (School Leader Series Brief #4)

This resource is designed to provide guidance on what school leaders need to do before, during, and after the assessment window. Developed in collaboration with CCSSO, the Assessment, Standards, …

Published: 9/28/2021

NCEO Parent Fact Sheets: State Testing of Your Child Who is an English Learner (Parent Fact Sheet #4)

This Fact Sheet summarizes the resources that are available specifically to students who are English learners who take state tests. The more parents know about these test resources, the more they …

Published: 8/14/2023

Strategies for Meeting Requirements for Alternate Assessments and WIOA

This presentation discussed strategies for meeting requirements for alternate assessments and WIOA. It was presented at the 2019 Office of Special Education Programs’ Leadership Conference.

Published: 2019-07-22

Improving Instruction Briefs: Building Successful Communication Between Parent or Guardian and Teacher: Information for Parents or Guardians (Vietnamese translation)

This Brief, translated into Vietnamese, explains how parents or guardians of students who are English learners can develop successful communication with teachers. Good parent-educator communication…

Published: June 2020

1% Toolkit: IEP Team Resource: Making Decisions about Participation in the Alternate Assessment (NCEO Tool #10)

This IEP team resource is designed to support IEP team members, including teachers, school psychologists, English language development specialists, speech language therapists, occupational therapis…

Published: January 2021

NCEO Parent Fact Sheets: Engaging Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families (Fact Sheet #5 - Educator)

This Fact Sheet provides educators with strategies that will help them engage culturally and linguistically diverse families and their children. These strategies can help overcome the challenges …

Published: 9/21/2023

NCEO Brief: Getting Ready for the 2021-22 School Year: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Testing Children with Disabilities (#26)

As states, districts, and schools plan to return for the 2021-22 school year, questions are raised about whether and how to test children with disabilities, including children with the most...

Published: August 2021

An Analysis of Disability Groupings and Transition Planning Experiences

One important aspect of special education research that makes it complex is the variability of the disability categories being studied. This study used the context of individualized education …

Published: 7/2/2021

A Framework for Making Decisions about Participation in a State’s Alternate ELP Assessment (NCEO Report 426)

This report provides information on how to identify which English learners who may have a most significant cognitive disability are eligible to take an alternate English language proficiency (alt- …

Published: 10/28/2021

Meeting the Educational Needs of ELs with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

This presentation addressed how to meet the educational needs of English learners with significant cognitive disabilities. It was presented at the 2019 Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) …

Published: 2019-02-01

NCEO Brief: The Basics of Accommodations and Modifications (#33)

The purpose of this Brief is to clarify what accommodations and modifications are for both instruction and assessment for students with disabilities. We also disentangle the use of the term “ …

Published: January 2024

1% Toolkit: Who Should Participate in Your State’s Alternate Assessment? A Slide Presentation Tool for Administrators (NCEO Tool #6)

This Slide Presentation tool is designed to support the needs that administrators have for brief but substantive information about who should participate in the state’s alternate assessment on...

Published: May 2020

A State Guide to the Development of Universally Designed Assessments

Test design strategies for accurately measuring the knowledge and skills of a diverse student population from test conceptualization and item construction, to field-testing, item reviews, statewide…

Published: 2006-09-01

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2020-2021 APR Snapshot #29: Students in Special Education Assigned Assessment Accommodations (#29)

This report provides information on the number of students with disabilities assigned accommodations and the performance of these students on the general statewide assessment used for Elementary …

Published: December 2023

NCEO Reports: A Summary of the Research on the Effects of K–12 Test Accommodations: 2021 (#438)

This report provides an update on the state of the research on testing accommodations. Previous reports by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) have covered research published since …Published: February 2023

TIES Center Reports: Instructional Practices for Students with the Most Significant Disabilities in Inclusive Settings: A Review of the Literature (#104)

The purpose of this literature review is to extend previous literature reviews to bring the review of literature up-to-date on pedagogical practices for students with the most significant disabilit…

Published: 3/10/2020

Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Parents or Guardians (Simplified Chinese translation)

This Brief, translated into Simplified Chinese, answers questions about working with a language interpreter that parents or guardians of students who are English learners might have. Clear, …

Published: June 2020

How to Develop State Guidelines for Access Assistants: Scribes, Readers, and Sign Language Interpreters

A structured tool to assist in the development or enhancement of guidelines for access assistants (i.e., scribes, readers, sign language interpreters, page turners, transcribers, language translato…

Published: 2006-06-01

NCEO Parent Fact Sheets: Participating in What your Child is Being Taught and is Learning in School (Parent Fact Sheet #2)

This Fact Sheet helps parents improve two-way communication with teachers, including guidance for families with students with disabilities and English learners. This Fact Sheet provides to help …

Published: 8/14/2023

NCEO Reports: Text-to-Speech Accommodation Policies in 2018-19 (#417)

The purpose of this report is to provide an updated review of state text-to-speech (TTS) policies across general assessments of reading, writing, mathematics, and science. TTS refers to technology …

Published: August 2020

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2018-2019 APR Snapshot #26: Students in Special Education Assigned Assessment Accommodations

This brief provides information on the number of students with disabilities assigned accommodations and the performance of these students on the general statewide assessment used for Elementary …

Published: October 2022

NCEO Reports: A Summary of the Research on the Effects of K–12 Test Accommodations: 2020 (#436)

This report provides an update on the state of the research on testing accommodations. Previous reports by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) have covered research published since …

Published: September 2022

Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Principals

This Brief for principals answers questions about working with a language interpreter for families whose children are English learners. Clear, comprehensible communication between parents and …

Published: December 2019

Parents’ postsecondary education expectations for students with autism, intellectual disability, and multiple disabilities: Findings from NLTS 2012

This study uses data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 to examine predictors at the individual, family, and school levels associated with parental expectations toward postseconda…

Published: 2020-10-19

Improving Instruction Briefs: Accessibility Features and Accommodations: Information for Parents or Guardians (Simplified Chinese translation)

This Brief, translated into Simplified Chinese, explains accessibility features and accommodations for parents or guardians of students who are English learners, and also provides guidance on how …

Published: June 2020

TIES Center Reports: Communication Competence in the Inclusive Setting: A Review of the Literature (#103)

This report presents findings from a literature review that was conducted to identify evidenced-based approaches to supporting the development of communicative competence for K-8 students in …

Published: June 2019

Accessibility Planning for Postsecondary Entrance and Placement Exams for Deaf Students

Postsecondary entrance and placement tests provide critical information that shapes the trajectory of the transition from secondary to postsecondary education. Test accommodations can play an …

Published: 6/21/2021

Impact: Feature Issue on Inclusive Education for K-8 Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities

An issue in the Impact series that examines K-8 inclusive education. Historically, students with the most significant cognitive disabilities were often taught only functional skills in our K-12 …

Published: Winter 2018-19

Assessment Today: How We Got Here and Where We are Going

In this presentation Dr. Martha Thurlow, Executive Director of the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) traces the history of the inclusion of students with disabilities in large-scale …

Published: 2016-06-30

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2020-2021 APR Snapshot #30: AA-AAAS Participation and Performance (#30)

This report summarizes Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (AA-AAAS) data used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) accountability. Using federally …

Published: December 2023

NCEO Reports: Revisiting the Meaning of “Reduced Depth, Breadth, and Complexity” for AA-AAAS (#441)

Alternate assessments aligned to alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS) are designed and implemented for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Historically, these …

Published: January 2024

Policy Pushing Measurement Expertise for the Inclusion of ALL Students in Testing for Accountability

This presentation addressed the role of policy in pushing measurement expertise for the inclusion of all students in testing for accountability. It was presented at the 2020 National Council on …

Published: 2020-09-11

NCEO Reports: Test Security and Students with Disabilities: An Analysis of States’ 2020-21 Test Security Policies (#434)

This report provides a snapshot of how accommodated tests for students with disabilities, accessibility, alternate assessments, and other related issues were addressed in states’ test security …

Published: December 2021

1% Toolkit: A Five-Step Process for Developing and Reviewing District Justifications for Exceeding 1.0% AA-AAAS Participation (NCEO Tool #8)

The 2015 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), includes a 1.0% threshold on state-level participation rates in the alternate…

Published: June 2020

NCEO Reports: State Requirements for Test Administrators, Proctors, and Accommodations Providers Who Administer Tests to Students with Disabilities, English Learners, and English Learners with Disabilities (#437)

To help ensure that assessments are properly administered, states have developed policies about who can administer or proctor assessments, and the training they must have. This report presents the …

Published: 11/16/2022

TIES Center Briefs: Understanding the Role of Paraprofessionals in Your Child’s Education in Inclusive Classrooms (TIES Center Brief #7)

Paraprofessionals should be available to students with significant cognitive disabilities in the inclusive classroom. Depending on each student’s needs, paraprofessionals may provide supports, …

Published: 11/1/2021

NCEO Reports: 2018-19 Participation Guidelines and Definitions for Alternate Assessments based on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (#415)

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on state participation criteria and guidelines for alternate assessments based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS). In this …

Published: October 2019

What Does Meaningful Accessibility Really Mean?

This report contains the proceedings of a forum held on June 28, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana to discuss issues surrounding meaningful accessibility of assessments. The forum was a post-session …

Published: November 2023

NCEO Reports: The Role of Assessment Data in State Systemic Improvement Plans (SSIPs): An Analysis of FFY 2018 SSIPs (#425)

This report presents the findings of an analysis of states’ FFY 2018 State Systemic Improvement Plans (SSIPs), submitted to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs …

Published: February 2021

NCEO Data Analytics: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students with IEPs, 2016-2017 (#10)

This interactive report presents data on the participation and performance of students receiving special education services in statewide assessments used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act …

Published: December 2019

What Alternate Assessments and Diplomas Really Mean for Students with Significant Disabilities

This presentation addressed what alternate assessments and diplomas really mean for students with significant disabilities. It was presented at the 2020 Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) …

Published: 2020-02-07

Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Parents or Guardians (Vietnamese translation)

This Brief, translated into Vietnamese, answers questions about working with a language interpreter that parents or guardians of students who are English learners might have. Clear, comprehensible …

Published: June 2020

NCEO Brief: Including Students with Disabilities in K-2 Academic Assessments (#28)

This Brief provides an overview of issues related to the inclusion of students with disabilities and English learners with disabilities in early grade (i.e., K-2) assessments. State academic …

Published: November 2022

Improving Instruction Briefs: Building Successful Communication Between Parent or Guardian and Teacher: Information for Parents or Guardians (Simplified Chinese translation)

This Brief, translated into Simplified Chinese, explains how parents or guardians of students who are English learners can develop successful communication with teachers. Good parent-educator …

Published: June 2020

NCEO Participation Communication Toolkit: Communicating about Annual State Assessment Participation for All Students: A Communication Toolkit

This communications toolkit was developed by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) to identify and describe reasons why all students, including students with disabilities, English …

Published: 2023-03-09

NCEO Reports: A Summary of the Research on the Effects of K–12 Test Accommodations: 2017 (#418)

The purpose of this report is to provide a synthesis of the research on K-12 testing accommodations. In this report, we summarize the research published in 2017. 

Published: August 2020

NCEO Reports: Using Interim Assessments to Appropriately Measure What Students with Disabilities Know and Can Do: Advisory Panel Takeaways and NCEO Recommendations (#427)

A report on a virtual meeting NCEO held on February 16 and 17, 2021 of an Interim Assessment Advisory Panel to tap into the panel members’ collective knowledge about using interim assessments to …

Published: May 2021

Trends in Accommodations and Accessibility Features English Learners Received on Statewide Assessments

This presentation addressed trends in accommodations and accessibility features received by English learners in statewide assessments. It was presented at the 2019 National Association for Bilingua…

Published: 2019-03-07

NCEO Reports: 2018-19 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and English Learners with Disabilities (#428)

This is the 22nd report by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) that describes how states publicly report assessment data for students with disabilities in K-12 schools in the United …

Published: December 2021

Improving Instruction Briefs: Building Successful Communication Between Parent or Guardian and Teacher: Information for Parents or Guardians

This Brief for parents or guardians of students who are English learners answers questions about communicating with teachers when English is a challenge, and the benefits of successful communicatio…

Published: December 2019

Universal Design Online Manual

Steps that states can take to ensure universal design of computer and paper-based assessments. Including any step in the design and review of tests may improve the design features of a state …

Published: 2006-09-01

NCEO Reports: Speech-Language Pathologists’ Experiences with Accessibility and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (#430)

This report presents the findings of a study aimed to address the gap between policy and practice for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who serve students identified with a speech-language …

Published: December 2021

1% Toolkit: Data Analysis and Use Planning Tool for Examining AA-AAAS Participation: Addressing the Percentage of Students Participating in the Alternate Assessment (NCEO Tool #2)

This Data Analysis and Use Planning Tool is designed to help states and districts develop a plan for analyzing and using their AA-AAAS data as part of their efforts to meet the 1.0% cap on state- …

Published: September 2019

NCEO Brief: Related Services Providers: Important Contributors to the Accommodations Decision-Making Process (#27)

Related service providers include speech-language pathologists, audiologists, psychologists, and physical and occupational therapists who provide specialized support to students with disabilities. …

Published: December 2021

Parental Expectations on the Post-school Outcomes for English Learners with Disabilities

This presentation, focusing on parents’ expectations about post-school outcomes for English learners with disabilities, was presented at the 2021 National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE …

Published: 2021-04-28

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2018-2019 APR Snapshot #27: AA-AAAS Participation and Performance

This report summarizes Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (AA-AAAS) data used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) accountability. Using federally …

Published: December 2022

Predictors of Participation of Transition Planning Participation and Future Goal Aspirations for Secondary ELs with Disabilities

This presentation discussed predictors of participation of transition planning participation and future goal aspirations for secondary English learners with disabilities. It was presented at the …

Published: 2019-11-19

NCEO Reports: A Review of the Literature on Computerized Speech-to-Text Accommodations (#414)

This literature review describes what research conducted between 2008 and 2018 tells the field about the use of computerized speech-to-text (STT) technology tools by K-12 and post-secondary …

Published: August 2019

Improving Instruction Briefs: Accessibility Features and Accommodations: Information for Parents or Guardians

This Brief explains accessibility features and accommodations for parents or guardians of students who are English learners, and also provides guidance on how to talk to teachers to help their …

Published: December 2019

NCEO Reports: The 95 Percent State Assessment Participation Requirement: Current Landscape, State Challenges, and Recommended Strategies (#429)

This report provides an overview of federal statutory language on student participation in state summative assessments used for accountability as well as the participation requirements for states …

Published: 9/30/2021

Improving Instruction Briefs: Accessibility Features and Accommodations: Information for Parents or Guardians (Spanish translation)

This Brief, translated into Spanish, explains accessibility features and accommodations for parents or guardians of students who are English learners, and also provides guidance on how to talk to …

Published: June 2020

IEP/transition planning participation among students with the most significant cognitive disabilities: Findings from NLTS 2012

This study used data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 (NLTS 2012) to explore the individualized education program (IEP)/transition planning participation and role of students …

Published: 2020-08-28

NCEO Parent Fact Sheets: Getting Help for Your Child When Taking State Tests (Parent Fact Sheet #1)

This Fact Sheet summarizes the purpose of state tests, and describes test resources that students may need. This Fact Sheet also provides parents with tips on how to work with teachers to access …

Published: 8/14/2023

MTSS for All: Including Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities

The purpose of this Brief is to provide suggestions for ways in which the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) can include students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. 

Published: 1/23/2020

NCEO Reports: A Literature Review on Evidence-Based Literacy Assessment and Instruction Practices for English Learners with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (#422)

This report summarizes a comprehensive investigation of research published between 2000–2018 on evidence-based literacy assessment and instruction practices for English learners with the most …

Published: November 2020

Improving Instruction Briefs: Building Successful Partnerships Between the School Principal, Families, and Communities: information for Principals

This Brief for principals answers questions about communicating with parents or guardians for whom communicating in English is a challenge. Good parent-educator communication is key to determining …

Published: December 2019

NCEO Reports: A Summary of the Research on the Effects of K–12 Test Accommodations: 2018 (#423)

The purpose of this report is to present a synthesis of the research on test accommodations for U.S. elementary and secondary students (K–12) published in 2018. The academic literature described …

Published: February 2021

TIES Center Briefs: Providing Meaningful General Education Curriculum Access to Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (TIES Center Brief #4)

This brief addresses the question of what access to and progress in the general education curriculum means for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. It provides examples of …

Published: August 2020

Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Parents or Guardians (Spanish translation)

This Brief, translated into Spanish, answers questions about working with a language interpreter that parents or guardians of students who are English learners might have. Clear, comprehensible …

Published: June 2020

Accommodations Toolkit: Tactile Graphics: Research

This fact sheet on tactile graphics is part of the  Accommodations Toolkit . It summarizes information and research findings on the use of tactile graphics as an accessibility feature or...

Published: 8/31/2021

TIES Center Briefs: Developing IEPs that Support Inclusive Education for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (#3)

​This Parent Brief focuses on developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that support inclusive education for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. 

Published: 2/5/2020

NCEO Reports: Updated Assessment Principles and Guidelines for English Learners with Disabilities (#424)

This updated report, originally published in 2013, presents five core principles of valid assessments for English learners with disabilities, along with a brief rationale and specific guidelines...

Published: August 2020

TIES Center Briefs: Communication Supports for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities: What Parents Need to Know (TIES Center Brief #9)

This Brief describes how families and other members of Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams can help students get the supports they need to build their communicative competence in inclusive…

Published: June 2022

Using Online Modules to Learn about Accessibility Features and Accommodations

This presentation focused on using online modules to learn about accessibility features and accommodations. It was presented at the 2019 National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) annual …

Published: 2019-03-08

TIES Center Briefs: Taking the Alternate Assessment Does NOT Mean Education in a Separate Setting! (#2)

This Parent Brief describes how participation in the alternate assessment does not automatically mean that a student is in a different instructional setting from his or her same-age peers without …

Published: May 2019

1% Toolkit: State-District Data Display Templates: Addressing the Percentage of Students Participating in the Alternate Assessment (NCEO Tool #3)

This State-District Data Display Templates tool is designed to provide states and districts with templates to display their data, with the end goal being to support an examination of the displayed …

Published: September 2019

Additional Educators’ Perspectives on Classroom Implementation of Accessibility Features and Accommodations

A second report from the DIAMOND project on phone interviews conducted with educators to highlight effective practices being used to implement accessibility features and accommodations in their …

Published: April 2019

1% Toolkit: District Dialogue Guide: Addressing the Percentage of Students Participating in the Alternate Assessment (NCEO Tool #4)

As part of its efforts to meet the 1.0% cap on state-level participation in the alternate assessment aligned to alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS), NCEO’s Peer Learning Group 1 ( …

Published: Sun Sep 22 2019

Improving Instruction Briefs: Building Successful Communication Between Parent or Guardian and Teacher: Information for Parents or Guardians (Spanish translation)

This Brief, translated into Spanish, explains how parents or guardians of students who are English learners can develop successful communication with teachers. Good parent-educator communication …

Published: June 2020

Trends in Accommodations Assigned to English Learners with Disabilities for Statewide Assessments

This presentation focused on trends in accommodations assigned to English learners with disabilities for statewide assessments. It was presented at the 2019 Minnesota Department of Education's …

Published: 2019-11-22

NCEO Data Analytics: Percent of Students with Disabilities by Disability Categories for 2005-06 to 2016-17 (#8)

This interactive report presents data on the number and percent of students receiving special education services by trends over time, category, and by state. The U.S. Department of Education …

Published: February 2019

The Growing Population of ELs with Disabilities in the United States

This presentation, about the growing population of English learners with disabilities in the United States, was presented at the 2021 National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) annual …

Published: 2021-04-27

Improving Instruction Briefs: Building Successful Communication Between Parent or Guardian and Teacher: Information for Parents or Guardians (Traditional Chinese translation)

This Brief, translated into Traditional Chinese, explains how parents or guardians of students who are English learners can develop successful communication with teachers. Good parent-educator …

Published: June 2020

NCEO Brief: Meeting the 1% AA-AAAS Participation Requirement (#29)

Up to 1.0% of the total tested state student population in a subject area may participate in the alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS). This Brief …

Published: March 2023

Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Parents or Guardians (Traditional Chinese translation)

This Brief, translated into Traditional Chinese, answers questions about working with a language interpreter that parents or guardians of students who are English learners might have. Clear, …

Published: June 2020

A Summary of the Research on Test Accommodations for English Learners and English Learners with Disabilities: 2010-2018

The purpose of this literature review is to examine the published English learner (EL) accommodations literature between 2010 and 2018 to provide an updated overview of research trends on this …

Published: 1/8/2020

NCEO Parent Fact Sheets: State Testing of Your Child with a Disability (Parent Fact Sheet #3)

This Fact Sheet summarizes the resources that are available specifically to students who have a disability, an Individualized Education Program (IEP), or a 504 plan when they take state tests. The …Published: 8/14/2023

NCEO Reports: State Approaches to Monitoring AA-AAAS Participation Decisions (#432)

This report presents the findings of a survey of states that examined the policies, practices, and procedures State Education Agencies (SEAs) used to monitor IEPs for participation decision making …

Published: April 2022

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2017-2018 APR Snapshot #23: Students in Special Education Assigned Assessment Accommodations (#23)

This APR Snapshot Brief provides information on the number of students with disabilities assigned accommodations and the performance of these students on the general statewide assessment used for …

Published: March 2021

TIES Center Briefs: Debunking Myths about Inclusive Education for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (TIES Center Brief #8)

Controversy often surrounds the inclusion of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in the general education classroom and curriculum. This is the case even though the Individual…

Published: 2/22/2022

Improving Instruction Briefs: Working with Language Interpreters: Information for Parents or Guardians

This Brief for parents or guardians of students who are English learners answers questions about working with a language interpreter. Clear, comprehensible communication between parents and …

Published: December 2019

1% Toolkit: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (NCEO Tool #15)

The purpose of this tool is to provide information on the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities for parents in the form of (a) a fact …

Published: November 2023

Postschool Goal Expectations for Youth With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Using National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 data, this study explored parent and youth expectations in the areas of postsecondary education, employment, independent living, and financial …

Published: 2024

1% Toolkit: Developing a 1% Cap Waiver or Waiver Extension Request (NCEO Tool #1)

The Every Student Succeeds Act allows for states to request a waiver from the 1% cap on alternate assessment participation requirements. Waiver request requirements are described in this Tool (the …

Published: September 2019

NCEO Reports: A Summary of the Research on Effects of Test Accommodations: 2015-2016 (#412)

The purpose of this report is to present a synthesis of the research on test accommodations published in 2015 and 2016. We summarize the research to review current research trends and enhance …

Published: November 2019

Improving Instruction Briefs: Accessibility Features and Accommodations: Information for Parents or Guardians (Vietnamese translation)

This Brief, translated into Vietnamese, explains accessibility features and accommodations for parents or guardians of students who are English learners, and also provides guidance on how to talk …

Published: June 2020

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2016-2017 APR Snapshot #20: Students in Special Education Assigned Assessment Accommodations (#20)

This brief provides information on the number of students with disabilities assigned accommodations and the performance of these students on the general statewide assessment used for Elementary …

Published: July 2019

Used vs. Assigned Accommodations and Accessibility Features for English Learners with Disabilities on Statewide Assessment

This presentation addressed the difference between used vs. assigned accommodations and accessibility features for English learners with disabilities on statewide assessment. It was presented at …

Published: 2020-02-27

NCEO Brief: Gaps in the Accommodations Research Literature (#31)

Federal and state policymakers, as well as educators, rely on the accommodations research literature to evaluate how accommodations should be used to improve accessibility for students with …

Published: April 2023

Multi-Attribute Consensus Building Tool

This tool gives step-by-step guidance on how to conduct a Multi-Attribute Consensus Building (MACB) session with educators, administrators, parents, advocates and other stakeholders. MACB is a …

Published: 2013-09-01

Challenges Teachers Experience in Making Decisions about Accessibility Options in Instruction and Assessment

This presentation addressed challenges teachers experience in making decisions about accessibility options in instruction and assessment. It was presented at the 2019 American Education Research …

Published: 2019-04-07

1% Toolkit: Developing an Assessment Participation Action Plan: A Tool for State Leaders (NCEO Tool #13)

The purpose of this resource is to provide a tool for states that wish to improve student assessment participation. The tool provides guidance on how state leaders can develop an assessment …

Published: April 2023

NCEO Reports: Guidebook to Including Students with Disabilities and English Learners in Assessments (#420)

This report provides 10 lessons about how to ensure inclusive assessment practices for students with disabilities and English learners. In addition to the 10 lessons, it provides foundational …

Published: June 2020

Reconsiderandolas expectativas para los estudiantes con discapacidades (NCEO Brief #17) (Spanish)

The purpose of this brief (translated in Spanish) is to summarize some of the past exclusionary practices that resulted from low expectations for students with disabilities, and how those were …

Published: July 2020

NCEO Brief: Suggestions for Aligning Alternate Achievement Standards with WIOA (#16)

This Brief provides information on alternate achievement standards and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014, and makes several suggestions about ways to show that a student …

Published: January 2019

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2016-2017 APR Snapshot #19: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students Receiving Special Education Services (#19)

This report provides a snapshot of the participation and performance of students receiving special education services in statewide assessments used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA …

Published: July 2019

1% Toolkit: Student Profiles for Alternate Assessment Decision Making (NCEO Tool #11)

Most states and districts provide training that aims to help individualized education program (IEP) teams make appropriate decisions about student participation in the alternate assessment. Some …

Published: March 2021

Trends in Participation, Performance, and Accommodations Received by Special Education Students

This presentation described trends in participation, performance, and accommodations received by special education students. It was presented at the 2019 National Council on Measurement in Educatio…

Published: 2019-04-04

Forum on States and Districts Working Together on the 1.0% Threshold

A report on a forum held on June 26, 2019 in Orlando, Florida to discuss how states and districts can work together to meet the 1.0% threshold on participation in the alternate assessment aligned …

Published: September 2019

Exploring Predictors of Bullying and Victimization of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Findings from NLTS 2012

Research suggests that bullying victimization occurs at higher rates among students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than among their typically-developing peers. This study used data from the …

Published: 2/19/2021

NCEO Reports: Universal Design and K-12 Academic Assessments: A Scoping Review of the Literature (#442)

This report summarizes an investigation of literature published in 1985-2023 on universal design (UD) of large-scale assessments. State education agencies, K-12 assessment vendors, teacher trainers…

Published: February 2024

Assistive Technology Interoperability with Online Assessment Platforms and Other Technology Products and Services: Making it All Work!

This report contains the proceedings of a forum held on June 29, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia to discuss issues surrounding the use of personal student assistive technology and online assessment …

Published: September 2022

NCEO Brief: Revisiting Expectations for Students with Disabilities (#17)

The purpose of this brief is to summarize some of the past exclusionary practices that resulted from low expectations for students with disabilities, and how those were addressed in policies …

Published: May 2019

TIES Center Briefs: The General Education Curriculum - Not an Alternate Curriculum! (Brief #5)

This parent brief was developed to help parents determine whether their child with significant cognitive disabilities is provided meaningful access to the general education curriculum. It addresses…

Published: August 2020

NCEO Reports: An Updated State Guide to Universally Designed Assessments (#431)

This Guide is an update to the State Guide to Universally Designed Assessments that was originally published by NCEO in 2006. It provides a brief overview of what a universally designed assessment …

Published: February 2022

Exploring IEP Transition Planning Experiences and Future Goal Aspirations of ELs and non-ELs with Disabilities

This presentation on IEP transition planning experiences and future goal aspirations of English learners and non-English learners with disabilities was presented at the 2020 National Association …

Published: 2020-02-28

Topics

  • Education practices (K12 and transition)
    • Dropout prevention and student engagement
    • Inclusive education
    • Academic standards
    • Instructional strategies
    • Literacy
    • Student learning strategies
    • Transition planning
    • IEP development
    • Accommodations and supports
  • Specific life stage
    • Children
    • Adolescents and young adults
  • Educational accountability and assessment
    • Accommodations and supports
    • Accountability
    • Assessment (large-scale, alternate)
    • Diplomas and Graduation Requirements
    • IDEA
    • State Performance Plans and Annual Performance Reports (SPP/APR)
    • Evaluation of education programs
    • Progress monitoring
    • Assessment of individuals
    • Quality outcomes
  • Specific disability
    • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
    • Emotional/behavioral disorder (EBD)
    • Hearing and/or vision loss
    • Intellectual/developmental disability (IDD)
    • Learning disabilities
    • Multiple disabilities
    • Other health impairment
    • Physical disability

Activities

  • Research
  • Training and professional development
  • Technical assistance
  • Evaluation
  • Dissemination
  • Outreach