In Part 1 of this series, we explained that under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) an IEP must be calculated to enable the student to make "meaningful and effective progress commensurate with his or her educational potential" One way to measure a student’s potential is through cognitive or intellectual testing.
Once you have a baseline for the student’s potential, you need to measure progress. Academic testing provides one widely accepted way to assess a child’s progress. The following are a list of common evaluation tools with links to descriptions of the tests:
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test Third Edition (WIAT III)
Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement Third Edition (KTEA-3)
Another way to measure progress is to compare academic test scores overtime. It is best to compare the same test measures so you are’t comparing apples and oranges.
An experienced special education lawyer, advocate, or educational consultant can help you understand how your child’s test scores are analyzed within the context of education law. If you are concerned that your child is not making progress commensurate with his or her potential contact the Cambridge and North Shore offices of Wong & Boscarine.