Handbook of Accessible Achievement Tests for All Students

Introduction.-Accessible Tests, Inclusive Assessment Systems, & Needed Innovations.-I. Federal Policies & Legal Considerations.-Federal Policies that Support Inclusive Assessments.-IEP Team Decision Making for More Inclusive Assessments.-Legal Issues in Testing.-II. Classroom Connections.-Opportunity to Learn What is Tested.-Classroom Learning and Students with Persistent Academic Difficulties.-Instructional Accommodations and Modifications that Support Learning.-Test-wiseness and Test Preparation.-III.Test Design Principles and Innovative Practices for More Accessible Tests.-Validity Evidence for Accommodated and Modified Tests.-Item Writing Research.-Universal Design and Cognitive Load Theories Influence on Item and Test Design.-Testing Accommodations and Item Modifications: Research to Guide Practice.-Students Input: Cognitive Labs and Surveys.-Computerized Tests Sensitive to Individual Needs.-Defining Proficient Performances and Setting Standards.-Conclusions: Accessibility Challenges, Innovative Answers.-Implementing Modified Achievement Tests: Cost / Benefits.-Accessible Tests of Student Achievement: Why now and How

Stephen N. Elliott, PhD is the founding Director of the Learning Sciences Institute, a trans-university research enterprise at Arizona State University, and is the Mickelson Foundation Professor of Education. He received his doctorate at Arizona State University in 1980 and has been on the faculty at several major research universities, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Vanderbilt University. At Wisconsin (1987-2004), Steve was a professor of educational psychology and served as the Associate Director of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. At Vanderbilt (2004-2010), he was the Dunn Family Professor of Educational and Psychological Assessment in the Special Education Department and directed the Learning Sciences Institute and Dunn Family Scholars Program. His research focuses on scale development and educational assessment practices. In particular, he has published articles on (a) the assessment of children's social skills and academic competence, (b) the use of testing accommodations and alternate assessment methods for evaluating the academic performance of students with disabilities for educational accountability, and (c) students' opportunities to learn the intended curriculum. Steve's scholarly and professional contributions have been recognized by his colleagues in education and psychology research as evidenced by being selected as an American Psychological Association Senior Scientist in 2009. Steve consults with state assessment leaders on the assessment and instruction of PreK-12 students, and serves on ETS's Visiting Research Panel, and is the Director of Research and Scientific Practice for the Society of the Study of School Psychology.

Ryan J. Kettler, PhD is a Research Assistant Professor in Special Education at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. He received his doctorate in Educational Psychology, with a specialization in School Psychology, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2005. Ryan's

"Dr. Stephen Elliott knows how to make tests accessible as few professionals in the United States. We should all be looking to him as one of the people who will help us determine answers to "tricky problems." His orientation is both psychometric and practical, but totally oriented to inclusion.  I know that I will be reading this book!"Kurt F. Geisinger, Ph.D.Meierhenry Distinguished University ProfessorDirector, Buros Center for TestingThe University of Nebraska-LincolnEditor, Applied Measurement in Education"The Handbook of Accessible Achievement Tests for All Students considers access not only from the perspective of accommodations and test construction, but also from opportunity to learn the grade-level content. The authors provide an important synthesis of research and policy and offer ideas for future directions in making assessment inclusive of students with disabilities."Diane M. Browder, Ph.D.Lake and Edward P. Snyder Professor of Special EducationUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte"Access to high quality education is the great equalizer in American society. This new book provides a roadmap for ensuring that students with disabilities are afforded such an education by showing us how to develop fair and valid assessments for measuring these youngsters' academic progress. For anyone interested in teaching, testing, and advancing equitable educational accountability this is a must-have book."Steve Graham, Ed.D.Currey Ingram ProfessorVanderbilt University

"Dr. Stephen Elliott knows how to make tests accessible as few professionals in the United States. We should all be looking to him as one of the people who will help us determine answers to "tricky problems." His orientation is both psychometric and practical, but totally oriented to inclusion. I know that I will be reading this book!"
Kurt F. Geisinger, Ph.D.
Meierhenry Distinguished University Professor
Director, Buros Center for Testing
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Editor, Applied Measurement in Education

"The Handbook of Accessible Achievement Tests for All Students considers access not only from the perspective of accommodations and test construction, but also from opportunity to learn the grade-level content. The authors provide an important synthesis of research and policy and offer ideas for future directions in making assessment inclusive of students with disabilities."
Diane M. Browder, Ph.D.
Lake and Edward P. Snyder Professor of Special Education
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

"Access to high quality education is the great equalizer in American society. This new book provides a roadmap for ensuring that students with disabilities are afforded such an education by showing us how to develop fair and valid assessments for measuring these youngsters' academic progress. For anyone interested in teaching, testing, and advancing equitable educational accountability this is a must-have book."
Steve Graham, Ed.D.
Currey Ingram Professor
Vanderbilt University