Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation

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Core Competency Area 3

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Area Introduction

Before a team can set goals with a student, information about the student must be gathered and analyzed. The process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information related to the student is called assessment. The initial determination of eligibility for special education can often be lengthy and complicated. As a paraprofessional, it is important for you to know that each of these steps is fully regulated by state and federal law. Specific procedures have been created for each step. These procedures protect rights and ensure that responsibilities are met in a professional and successful manner.

Observing and recording skills are important in the classroom environment. As part of the assessment process, you may be called upon to observe the student as he or she interacts with the environment and learns new skills. In order to make full use of the observational data, objective and accurate records must be kept. You should be well trained in this area since monitoring behavior and progress on objectives is an essential part of education services. The records that you keep are used to make decisions that impact students' lives. Using the information from the observation and assessment, the team is better able to develop goals that are appropriate to the student's needs.

Competency units in area 3 address the knowledge and skills regarding:

Being a good observer when working with children and youth in an educational setting.
How to separate personal perception or biases from what is seen and record exactly what is happening.
How to contribute effectively to the discussions about the instructional program for any specific child or youth.
Basic types of observation.

It is important for you to understand the methods of observation that are used in the setting that you work in and your role in the observation process. Adequate training in these areas will help you to contribute important information about the students that you work with in a way that will effectively support the educational programming that is developed by the team.

(Clicking the hyperlinked competency code, e.g., 1K3B, will take you to the associated training unit.)

3. Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation
3.1 (3K1B) Awareness of the tools used by the district for student assessment, diagnosis, and evaluation.
3.2 (3S1C, 3S2C) Ability to collect and record performance data on students under the direction of a licensed teacher, while respecting student confidentiality and the laws regarding ethical practices of assessment.

Review

pdf

rtf

Your facilitator may ask you to turn in a written copy of the area review, in which case you can use either the pdf or rtf file. If your facilitator wants you to submit an electronic file, download the rtf file and open it in a Word Processor.

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Core Competency Area 3

Area Introduction

Review

Area Evaluation