IEP students may, as a last resort, be excluded from the assessment for any or all subjects. LEP and IEP students are held to the same standards as are all other students. A test booklet must be returned for every enrolled student. The scores of all students who complete all the common sections of the exam, including those with accommodations, are included in the state reports. The bias review approach is probably adequate, presuming there is sufficient knowledge on the item committees to detect possible bias.
Statistical review is recommended.
The efforts at inclusion are solid, but more will have to be done to meet new IDEA requirements for students with IEPs. Pre-service teachers are required to become knowledgeable in classroom, performance, and portfolio assessment as well as integrating classroom assessment and instruction. No further education in this field is required of in- service teachers, but the state does offer workshops in these areas, as does the state university system. Administrators and other personnel have similar requirements and options, and also are expected to obtain pre-service knowledge of traditional testing practices and psychometric principles. The state questionnaires periodically ask teachers and principals about professional practices and development needs in assessment, and about existing professional development.