Improving Test Performance of Students With Disabilities...On District and State Assessments

"There are no more capable people to advise school districts on improving academic performance of children with disabilities than Judy Elliott and Martha Thurlow. This book is the definitive resource for all who are struggling to meet the challenges put forth first by IDEA 97 and now by NCLB. Simply put, this is a ′must-have′ resource. Elliott and Thurlow have combined the most recent research with practical recommendations that go beyond improving test performance to provide the basis upon which real educational equity can be achieved for students with disabilities."—Thomas Hehir, Professor, Harvard Graduate School of EducationFormer Director, Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Dept. of EducationMaximize the academic performance of every student, every day! Students with disabilities must overcome unique obstacles in order to learn, and the pressure of testing often exacerbates existing challenges. With increased focus on accountability for all, how can educators properly prepare students for tests without sacrificing meaningful learning? In Improving Test Performance of Students With Disabilities . . . On District and State Assessments, Second Edition, authors Elliott and Thurlow offer numerous strategies for improving instruction, student accommodations, and test preparation, all with the goal of improving the test performance of students with disabilities. Emphasizing practical application, this comprehensive resource delineates the key elements district, school, and state professionals must consider in order to maximize the academic performance of students with disabilities. The second edition of this insightful text addresses the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on instruction and assessment practices for students with disabilities, including those who are also English Language Learners. Featuring inserts and easy-to-follow worksheets, tables, and appendices, this indispensable resource will enable all educators to help students with disabilities learn more effectively and show what they know on the day of the test. Improving Test Performance of Students With Disabilities . . . Second Edition includes:

• Practical steps for linking district and/or state standards with student IEP goals
• Helpful tips enabling instructors to determine the best ways to accommodate their students during instruction and on tests
• Detailed instructions for improving performance on general and alternate assessments
• Tables and worksheets to engage both instructors and learners