When working with students in special education, assessments play a critical role in identifying strengths, challenges, and the best instructional strategies to support their learning. Whether you’re a new special education teacher or looking to refresh your knowledge, understanding the most common educational assessments can help you better serve your students.
Here’s a breakdown of the key assessments used in special education:
1. Cognitive Assessments
Cognitive assessments help determine a student’s intellectual abilities and processing skills. These tests are often used to evaluate learning disabilities or intellectual disabilities.
- Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) – Measures cognitive abilities, including verbal comprehension, working memory, and processing speed.
- Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities (WJ-IV) – Assesses general intellectual ability, processing speed, and cognitive strengths and weaknesses.
- Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales (SB5) – Used to measure cognitive development and intellectual functioning.
2. Academic Achievement Assessments
These tests evaluate a student’s academic skills in reading, writing, and math to determine if there are gaps between ability and performance.
- Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (WJ-IV ACH) – Measures specific academic skills like reading comprehension, math fluency, and written expression.
- Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-4) – Assesses reading, writing, math, and oral language abilities.
- Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (KTEA-3) – Measures academic achievement and helps identify learning disabilities.
3. Behavior and Social-Emotional Assessments
Understanding a student’s behavior and emotional needs is essential for developing appropriate supports and interventions.
- Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-3) – Evaluates behavioral and emotional functioning through teacher, parent, and self-reports.
- Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Vineland-3) – Measures communication, daily living skills, socialization, and motor skills.
- Conners Rating Scales (Conners-4) – Used to assess ADHD and other behavioral concerns.
4. Speech and Language Assessments
These assessments help identify speech delays, language disorders, and communication difficulties.
- Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF-5) – Assesses expressive and receptive language skills.
- Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-5) – Measures vocabulary and language comprehension.
- Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation (GFTA-3) – Evaluates a student’s articulation skills and speech sound production.
5. Functional and Adaptive Behavior Assessments
For students with disabilities impacting daily living skills, these assessments help determine support needs.
- Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3) – Assesses daily living skills, socialization, and self-care abilities.
- Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS) – Helps measure practical life skills, including vocational skills.
- Brigance Inventory of Early Development (IED-III) – Used to assess early childhood development and adaptive skills.
6. Autism-Specific and Developmental Language Assessments
For students suspected of having autism or significant language delays, these assessments help diagnose and determine support needs.
- Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP) – Measures language and communication skills based on verbal behavior analysis, helping identify language delays and guide interventions.
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) – A structured assessment used to diagnose autism spectrum disorder.
- Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS-3) – Helps identify autism characteristics based on parent and teacher input.
- Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) – Screens for autism-related social communication difficulties.
7. Motor Skills and Occupational Therapy Assessments
These assessments evaluate fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, and handwriting skills.
- Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2) – Measures fine and gross motor skills.
- Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI) – Assesses visual-motor coordination.
- Sensory Processing Measure (SPM) – Identifies sensory processing difficulties.
Final Thoughts
Assessments are essential for developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and ensuring that students receive the right interventions. While no single test provides all the answers, using a combination of assessments can give a well-rounded picture of a student’s abilities and needs.
Once you have the assessments, you need to have an IEP binder to get organized! Learn more here!
What assessments do you use most in your classroom? Let’s discuss in the comments!
