Assessment

A new publication that has been developed for the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education includes the six principles of inclusive assessment and accountability systems. The publication is entitled, Principles and Characteristics of Inclusive Assessment and Accountability Systems: Synthesis Report and is part of the "Ideas That Work" series.

The six principles are:

1. All students with disabilities are included in the assessment system.
2. Decisions about how students with disabilities participate in the assessment system are the result of clearly articulated participation, accommodations, and alternate assessment decision-making processes.
3. All students with disabilities are included when student scores are publicly reported, in the same frequency and format as all other students, whether they participate with or without accommodations, or in an alternate assessment.
4. The assessment performance of students with disabilities has the same impact on the final accountability index as the performance of other students, regardless of how the students participate in the assessment system (i.e., with or without accommodations, or in an alternate assessment).
5. There is improvement of both the assessment and accountability system over time, through the processes of formal monitoring, ongoing evaluation, and systematic training in emerging research and best practice.
6. Every policy and practice reflects the belief that all students must be included in state and district assessment and accountability systems.

The principles are based on review and comment from groups of individuals who want to improve outcomes for all students. This group included district level practitioners, parent advocates; state department assessment, general education, and special education staff, state and federal policymakers, and regional and national technical assistance providers.

National Center on Educational Outcomes, University of Minnesota, 350 Elliott Hall, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, 612.624.8561(voice), 612.624.0879 (fax), http://education.umn.edu/nceo/ (web), nceo@umn.edu (e-mail).