A complete assessment consists of several elements. Input from the classroom teacher and other school staff members contributes to an individual student s assessment. The student and parents provide other perspectives on conditions within the school, home, and community which may be impacting behavior and performance, such as recent changes in the family. Observations provide direct information about how the student functions, interacts and behaves in the classroom and at school. Tests may be administered in a group or individually.
Standardized tests provide norms, which allow comparison of the student to peers.
Criterion-referenced tests provide information about the student s mastery of specific skills. Informal assessment may include analysis of classroom and homework assignments, participation in class activities, and performance on tests. In summary, assessment is the evaluation and interpretation of the performance of the student in a variety of settings and under diverse conditions. The assessment process attempts to discover why the student is not learning or not producing in the instructional program. The purpose of assessment is to provide students, parents, teachers, and other professionals with the information necessary to plan for individual instructional needs.