Understanding Assessments: What the School Evaluation Really Tells You
For parents navigating the world of special education, one of the most important steps in getting your child the support they need is the school evaluation process. Whether your child has been referred for an evaluation due to concerns about dyslexia or as part of the three-year evaluation, the assessment results provide essential information that helps to shape their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan.
However, understanding the technical language of these assessments and knowing what it all means for your child’s learning can be overwhelming. This blog post will break down the key components of educational assessments and guide you through how to interpret the results so you can better understand your child’s unique needs.
What Are Evaluations?
Evaluations are comprehensive assessment that measures various aspects of a child's development and learning abilities. These assessments are often conducted by school psychologists or educational specialists and may include tests of cognitive abilities, academic performance, language skills, and social-emotional development.
An evaluation is often the first step in determining whether a child qualifies for special education services or accommodations through an IEP or 504 Plan. The results help educators and specialists identify a child's strengths and weaknesses, guiding them in developing the right educational supports.
Breaking Down the Types of Assessments
Cognitive Assessments (IQ Tests)
What it Measures: Cognitive assessments measure a child's intellectual abilities, problem-solving skills, and reasoning. These assessments are designed to understand how a child processes information, their memory capacity, and their verbal and non-verbal reasoning abilities.
Common Tests: The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) or Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales are often used to assess cognitive abilities.
What to Look For: While dyslexia is not tied to intelligence, understanding your child’s cognitive profile can give insight into how they learn best. A discrepancy between their cognitive ability and academic performance may point to a learning disability.
Academic Achievement Tests
What it Measures: Academic assessments evaluate how well your child performs in specific areas such as reading, writing, and math. These tests help identify whether a child is performing at grade level or falling behind in certain subjects.
Common Tests: The Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement and the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (KTEA) are commonly used to measure academic skills.
What to Look For: If your child has dyslexia, they may perform well in math but struggle with reading and writing. Look for significant gaps between subject areas, as these can indicate the need for targeted interventions.
Speech and Language Assessments
What it Measures: These tests examine a child's understanding and use of language, both spoken and written. This is particularly important for children with dyslexia, as reading difficulties often stem from problems with phonological processing (the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in words).
Common Tests: The Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF) or the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP) are used to measure language and phonological skills.
What to Look For: If your child has trouble sounding out words, reading fluently, or understanding written text, their speech and language assessment can provide crucial information about the underlying causes of these difficulties.
Social-Emotional and Behavioral Assessments
What it Measures: These assessments look at a child’s emotional well-being, social skills, and behaviors. Children with dyslexia may experience frustration, anxiety, or a lack of self-confidence due to their learning difficulties. These assessments help determine if emotional or behavioral issues are affecting their academic performance.
Common Tests: The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) or the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales may be used to assess emotional and social development.
What to Look For: Dyslexia can impact a child's emotional well-being, especially if they are feeling misunderstood or frustrated in school. Understanding these aspects of your child’s development can help the school provide the right kind of social and emotional support.
Executive Function Assessments
What it Measures: Executive function assessments evaluate a child’s ability to plan, organize, stay focused, and manage time. For some children with dyslexia, these skills may also be impacted, making it more difficult to manage assignments or keep up with classwork.
Common Tests: The Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) or Conners' Continuous Performance Test (CPT) are often used to assess these abilities.
What to Look For: If your child has trouble with organization, attention, or completing tasks, an executive function assessment may reveal areas where they need additional support or accommodations in the classroom.
How to Interpret the Results
Understanding the Scores
Most assessments provide scores in the form of percentiles, standard scores, or grade equivalents. For example, a standard score around 100 is considered average. Scores significantly below or above this can indicate strengths or areas of need.
Percentiles are easier to understand in comparison to other children. A score in the 50th percentile means your child performed better than 50% of children their age, while a score in the 10th percentile means they scored lower than 90% of children their age.
Look for Discrepancies
A key sign of a learning disability like dyslexia is a discrepancy between cognitive ability (as measured by IQ tests) and academic achievement (as measured by reading or writing tests). For example, if a child has an average IQ but scores far below average in reading, this is a strong indicator of dyslexia.
Discuss with the School Team
Take the time to review the assessment results with the school team, which includes teachers, special education staff, and school psychologists. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification on any terms or results you don’t understand. The more you understand, the better you can advocate for the appropriate supports.
Use the Results to Guide Next Steps
The assessment results will inform the development of your child’s IEP or 504 Plan. They provide a roadmap for the services, accommodations, and specialized instruction your child will receive. Use these results as a guide to ensure that your child’s IEP goals are specific, measurable, and tailored to their needs.
Taking Action: Advocating for Your Child
Once you’ve reviewed the results and have a clear understanding of your child’s learning profile, the next step is advocating for their educational needs. This includes working closely with the school team to develop an IEP or 504 Plan that ensures your child has the support they need to thrive.
Here are a few tips for advocacy:
Be Prepared: Familiarize yourself with the test results and your child’s rights under the law. This will help you make informed decisions about the services your child needs.
Ask Questions: If something in the assessment doesn’t make sense, ask for clarification. You are your child’s best advocate, and it’s important to understand all aspects of their evaluation.
Work as a Team: Collaborate with the school team to set realistic, achievable goals for your child’s IEP. Ensure the plan includes accommodations that address their unique needs.
Understanding the results of your child’s school evaluation is critical for advocating effectively for their education. These assessments provide a detailed picture of your child's strengths and challenges, and they are the foundation for developing a personalized plan for their success. By taking the time to review and interpret the results, asking the right questions, and working closely with the school team, you can ensure that your child receives the services and supports they need to reach their full potential.