Educational Assessment and Accountability for All Students Facilitating the Meaningful Participation of Students with Disabilities in District and Statewide Assessment Programs

This guide provides information about the assessment and inclusion of all students in statewide and district assessment programs. In particular, it focuses on tactics for including students with disabilities in assessment to achieve a more complete picture of student learning and educational accountability. It is designed to help Wisconsin educators become familiar with the state's academic content standards and knowledgeable of the general content of tests in the Wisconsin Student Assessment System, so that they can actualize the requirements of the recently reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the potential of standards-based education for all students. In addition, the book provides detailed information on the state's testing guidelines, the valid use of testing accommodations and alternate assessments, and how to communicate these assessment results to educational stakeholders. Specific chapters include: (1) "Educational Assessment Today"; (2) "Characteristics of Good Assessment"; (3) "Understanding and Using the Wisconsin Student Assessment System"; (4) "Facilitating the Participation of All Students in Assessments"; and (5) "Best Practices in Assessment Programs for Educational Accountability." Appendices include standards for teacher competence in educational assessment of students, guidelines for testing procedures, and a code of fair testing practices in education. (Chapters include references.) (CR)