The poor performance of students with disabilities on tests designed for the non-handicapped has long been a concern of special educators. Special education students may be penaked by the format and presentation of test items and by conditions under which the tests are administered. Research indicates that low performance of students with disabilities on minimum competency tests is a particularly serious problem. Minimum competency tests are administered in a majority of states, and are increasingly used as a basis for graduation and diploma decisions which can affect students far beyond their school careers.There is general agreement that ff students with disabilities are to succeed on minimum competency tests, they will need accommodations so they are not penalized by their handicapping condition. Although test modifications are allowed in some states, they are not applied uniformly, and specific effects are unknown. This may be because there is no systematic and practical way to produce and administer test modifications, or to evaluate the effects of modifications on the performance of students with various disabilities.This proposal is for the development and evaluation of a prototype system for computerized test delivery, management and analysis, that can also be used for continuing research on the specific relationship of test modifications to performance in handicapped populations. 'Me prototype will create and administer tests with variation in item formats, item sequencing, timing, and presentation of directions. Tle system will use touch screen technology to administer tests. Automatic data collection features will be built in so that data can be accumulated as tests are administered. Phase I outcomes include summary data on management information needs, and detailed work plan specifications for Phase II implementation.
Keywords: assessment, test modifications, minimum competency.Anticipated results for Phase I and Phase II, and commercial implications:If both phases are successful, a new assessment environment system benefiting all levels of special education will be available to local districts. It will provide a method of testing special education students in way that does not penahm their disabilities.Department of education rfp number 93-025Topic: Development or adaptation of innovative technologies to support the assessment of children with disabilities in cognitive, language, perceptual-motor, academic, vocational, or social proficiency domains.
