Abstract
Assessment permeates many aspects of our educational society. With the passage of federal legislation (i.e., No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004), assessment in the form of accountability is ever present in our K–12 educational system. Current assessment practices should be used in an iterative process that is fueled and influenced by data-based decisions. This article provides illustrations of and a rationale for how current educational assessment practices can influence decision-making processes at the state and district, school, program, and classroom levels.
|
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Public Law 111-5 (2009). Google Scholar | |
|
Burns, M. K., Scholin, S. E., Zaslofsky, A. F. (2011). Advances in assessment through research: What have we learned in the past 3 years? Assessment for Effective Intervention, 36, 107–112. doi:10.1177/1534508410395557 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Horner, R. H., Sugai, G., Anderson, C. M. (2010). Examining the evidence base for school-wide positive behavior support. Focus on Exceptional Children, 32(8), 1–14. Google Scholar | |
|
Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 , 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq. (reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act of 1990). Google Scholar | |
|
Mellard, D., McKnight, M., Jordan, J. (2010). RTI tier structures and instructional intensity. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 25, 217–225. doi:10.1111/j.1540-5826.2010.00319.x Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Nagy, P. (2000). The three roles of assessment: Gatekeeping, accountability, and instructional diagnosis. Canadian Journal of Education, 25, 262–279. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 , Pub. L. No. 107-110, 115 Stat. 1425 (2002). Google Scholar | |
|
Roach, A. T. (2008). Intervention validity of assessments used in special education: Introduction to the special series. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 34, 3–5. doi:10.1177/1534508408314109 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Thorndike, R. M. (2005). Measurement and evaluation in psychology and education (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Google Scholar | |
|
Yell, M. L., Drasgow, E. (2007). Assessment for eligibility under IDEIA and the 2006 regulations. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 32, 202–213. doi:10.1177/15345084070320040201 Google Scholar | Crossref |

