CDT Documentation & Record Keeping 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student's IEP states a goal of 'improving reading fluency.' Why is this goal considered poorly written for documentation purposes?
- It does not specify a reading genre
- It lacks a measurable criterion, baseline, and timeframe (Correct answer)
- It uses the word 'improving' instead of 'mastering'
- It should reference phonics specifically
Correct answer: It lacks a measurable criterion, baseline, and timeframe
A well-written IEP goal must include a baseline, measurable criterion, and timeframe to allow objective progress monitoring.
Question 2: What does a CDT record in a 'running record' during oral reading assessment?
- The student's eye movements and blink rate
- Each word read correctly, substituted, omitted, or self-corrected (Correct answer)
- The therapist's subjective impressions of effort
- The number of pages the student completes per session
Correct answer: Each word read correctly, substituted, omitted, or self-corrected
A running record marks each word as correct, substituted, omitted, inserted, or self-corrected to analyze error patterns.
Question 3: Under HIPAA, how long must a covered healthcare provider generally retain adult patient records?
- 1 year after last contact
- At least 6 years from the date of creation or last effective date (Correct answer)
- Until the patient's 21st birthday
- 10 years from the date of diagnosis
Correct answer: At least 6 years from the date of creation or last effective date
HIPAA requires covered entities to retain records of PHI for at least 6 years from creation or the last effective date.
Question 4: When graphing a student's CBM (Curriculum-Based Measurement) scores, what does the 'aimline' represent?
- The student's historical lowest score
- The projected rate of progress needed to reach the goal by the deadline (Correct answer)
- The class average benchmark score
- The therapist's subjective expectation for the session
Correct answer: The projected rate of progress needed to reach the goal by the deadline
The aimline is a drawn line from the student's baseline score to the goal score at the goal date, showing the expected growth trajectory.
Question 5: Which statement BEST describes the purpose of error analysis in CDT documentation?
- To count the total number of mistakes for a grade report
- To identify patterns in reading or spelling errors that inform instructional decisions (Correct answer)
- To compare students with peers in the same grade
- To determine whether a student should repeat a grade
Correct answer: To identify patterns in reading or spelling errors that inform instructional decisions
Error analysis reveals systematic patterns (e.g., vowel team confusions) that guide targeted instruction rather than merely tallying mistakes.
Question 6: A CDT working in a private practice setting should store physical student files in what manner?
- In an open bookshelf in the reception area for easy access
- In a locked file cabinet with access limited to authorized staff (Correct answer)
- Scanned and emailed to parents monthly for their copies
- Stored at the student's home and retrieved at each session
Correct answer: In a locked file cabinet with access limited to authorized staff
Physical records must be stored in a locked, secure location with access restricted to authorized personnel to protect student confidentiality.
Question 7: In dyslexia therapy documentation, what is the primary purpose of a 'baseline assessment'?
- To satisfy insurance billing requirements only
- To establish a starting point against which future progress can be measured (Correct answer)
- To identify the student's favorite reading topics
- To replace the need for a formal diagnostic evaluation
Correct answer: To establish a starting point against which future progress can be measured
Baseline assessment data creates a measurable starting point so that gains in skill can be objectively quantified over time.
CDT Documentation & Record Keeping 3
A student's IEP states a goal of 'improving reading fluency.' Why is this goal considered poorly written for documentation purposes?