High Stakes Assessment Essay

1. What are some important steps in interpreting data from high stakes assessments? Interpreting data from high stakes assessments is key in helping students improve in school, not just on test scores. The very first step is to understand the data. Anyone can look at data, but to actually use it to improve anything, that person must understand what he or she is reviewing. To understand the data, determining “what additional information is necessary to understand student performance” (IRIS Center for Training Enhancements, 2014, pg. 2) is key. Also, in reviewing the data, it is important to understand the students who are taking the test and what disabilities they have. Some disabilities require more accommodations, and all of this needs to be taken into consideration. Another step is to look for expected and unexpected results. The errors made by the students need to be examined to evaluate the situation they are in with the test scores. Identifying “the number of students with disabilities who took standardized tests” (IRIS Center for Training Enhancements, 2014, pg. 3) is also an important step. Finding the more …show more content…
The law that covers this information is called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Students with disabilities are required to have IEPs or individualized education programs. There are certain things that must be included in these programs, such as the following: “a statement of the child’s present levels of educational performance; measurable annual goals related to meeting the child’s needs; and, descriptions of modifications or supports that the child will need” (IRIS Center for Training Enhancements, 2014, pg. 8). These modifications will be used to assist in the instruction and assessment of the student. If a student with disabilities requires accommodations during an assessment, he or she must be provided with those accommodations by