Evaluation Techniques Flashcards

An evaluator wants to determine whether a student's academic performance is consistent with intellectual ability. Which evaluation approach is MOST aligned with IDEA 2004?

Answer: Response to Intervention (RTI) data analysis

IDEA 2004 explicitly permits the use of RTI data as an alternative to the IQ-achievement discrepancy model for identifying learning disabilities.

Which of the following measures BEST captures a student's phonological awareness skills?

Answer: Phoneme segmentation fluency

Phoneme segmentation fluency directly measures a student's ability to isolate and identify individual sounds, a core phonological awareness skill.

A test's standard error of measurement (SEM) is used to:

Answer: Construct a confidence interval around an obtained score

The SEM is used to build confidence intervals that reflect the range within which a student's true score likely falls.

Which of the following is an example of a dynamic assessment approach?

Answer: Providing graduated cues during testing to observe learning potential

Dynamic assessment involves a test-intervene-retest model that examines a student's ability to learn with mediated support.

When assessing a bilingual student, the diagnostician should PRIMARILY ensure that:

Answer: The evaluation includes measures in both languages to gain a complete profile

Comprehensive bilingual assessment requires evaluation in both languages to distinguish language difference from language disorder or disability.

Which score type indicates how many standard deviations above or below the mean a student's performance falls?

Answer: Standard score (z-score)

A standard score (z-score) directly expresses performance in standard deviation units relative to the mean of the reference group.

Observations conducted across multiple settings (classroom, hallway, cafeteria) during a special education evaluation serve to:

Answer: Assess the generalizability and pervasiveness of identified concerns

Multi-setting observations help determine whether behaviors or academic difficulties are pervasive across environments, which is critical for eligibility and programming.