Assessment & Evaluation Products to Watch

According to a recent report from the Center for Education Policy, the number of students served by IDEA has increased almost 75 percent in the past 20 years. With IDEA 2004 requiring changes in the methods used to evaluate learning disabilities as well as more student accountability, special needs assessment and evaluation continue to be a core focus for administrators. Here are some products to investigate as you’re planning your special needs solutions.

Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI)
A research-based software program that measures student reading ability, forecasts growth, and allows educators to differentiate and tailor instruction to each child. SRI uses the Lexile Framework to evaluate reading ability and match students with appropriate texts. In 20-minute assessments, students read short passages and answer multiple-choice questions. Based on their reading ability, the program suggests a number of titles. Administrators have immediate access to district-level data that can help them track special needs populations and other demographics.
www.scholastic.com/sri ; 1-877-268-6871

BRIGANCE Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills–Revised
Designed for grades PreK–9, the BRIGANCE CIBS-R evaluates students in readiness, speech, listening, research and study skills, reading, spelling, writing, and math. A new online management system allows districts to track and report students’ long-term progress, as well as present levels of performance.
www.curriculumassociates.com ; 1-800-225-0248


Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test–Third Edition (PPVT-III)
Part of the Pearson Assessments product suite, the PPVT-III is an easy-to-administer screening test of verbal ability. To take the test, the child is not required to read and write; rather, the child responds to a series of black-and-white line illustrations. Research-based and culturally balanced, the PPVT-III can help meet Reading First and NCLB assessment guidelines. The new PPVT-4 will be released at the end of 2006.
www.speechandlanguage.com; 1-800-627-7271

STI Special Education Tracking System (SETS)
A K–12 solution for online data management of special education services, the STI Special Education Tracking System (SETS) allows users to track student IEPs, facilitate referrals, monitor student screenings and status, and more—including the ability to quickly pinpoint which students need more intervention. SETS integrates with STI’s Student Information Systems, which teachers and administrators can access on the school and district level.
www.sti-k12.com ; 1-800-844-0884

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  Scholastic Trio Individual Theme Unit Set 3, Language Arts - Grade 3 Favorites, Grades 3-4 Visit the Scholastic TRIO website for more information. Scholastic Trio is a series of themed reading collections that engage students at THREE levels of reading ability - Below, On, and Above - all in the SAME content-area topic. Now your whole class can participate in learning about a single science, social studies, or language arts topic as they develop strategic reading $193.35 Paperback Book Collection | Grades 3-4

  
  Scholastic Trio Individual Theme Unit Set 3, Language Arts - Grade 3 Favorites, Grades 3-4
  Grades 3-4 $193.35
  
• Teacher Store
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  Scholastic Trio Content-Area Unit Set 4, Language Arts Grades 4-5 Visit the Scholastic TRIO website for more information. Scholastic Trio is a series of themed reading collections that engage students at THREE levels of reading ability - Below, On, and Above - all in the SAME content-area topic. Now your whole class can participate in learning about a single science, social studies, or language arts topic as they develop strategic reading $773.40 Paperback Book Collection | Grades 4-5

  
  Scholastic Trio Content-Area Unit Set 4, Language Arts Grades 4-5
  Grades 4-5 $773.40