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    Special Education Assessments
     

    The following are some of the assessments that may be apart of a referral for Special Education and/or Related Services.

    Regular Education Assessment

    Regular Education Assessment: At least one of the student's regular education teachers in the area(s) where the student is experiencing difficulty will complete an evaluation of the student.

    Educational History Assessment

    The Guidance Counselor, who reviews the chronology of the student's school experience in Norwell and elsewhere, may complete a Developmental History, an Educational History, or a Home Assessment.

    Speech/Language Assessment

    A Speech/Language Pathologist administers an assessment focusing on language development, specifically, articulation, phonological disorders, specific language impairment and fluency. The pathologist may also determine current performance in four areas related to the regular education curriculum: listening, speaking, reading and writing. When a Speech/Language Assessment is recommended, the pathologist may have already been consulted during the school-based intervention process.

    Occupational Therapy Assessment

    A Licensed Occupational Therapist (OTR) administers an Occupational Therapy Assessment. Formal and informal testing procedures are used to assess the student's performance in the regular education classroom. Performance components, which are assessed, include sensory processing, upper extremity coordination, and perceptual and visual motor skills. When an Occupational Therapy Assessment is recommended, the therapist may have already been consulted during the school-based intervention process.

    Physical Therapy Assessment

    The physical therapy assessment is administered by a Licensed Physical Therapist. This assessment includes classroom observation and independently administered testing procedures. These procedures may assess one or more of the following: range of motion, muscle strength, muscle tone, reflex integration, posture, endurance, gait, functional skills and gross motor skills. The evaluation determines if the student can safely navigate the school environment and participate in all elements of the school program. When a Physical Therapy Assessment is recommended, the therapist may have already been consulted during the school-based intervention process.

    Health Assessment

    The School Nurse is responsible for following up on the Health Assessment. The School Nurse should determine if it is appropriate to receive a release so that a member of the TEAM may communicate directly with the physician or other health care provider.

    Developmental Assessment

    The parent completes the developmental history with the assistance of the guidance counselor, when the Special Education Evaluation TEAM or the parent feels it should be a part of the evaluation. The parent may choose to not have elements of the developmental history included in the guidance counselor's final report. This is entirely up to the discretion of the parent and guidance counselor. The guidance counselor has forms for developmental history to assist in covering all the necessary information. Different Developmental History forms are fashioned specifically for Initial Assessments, Preschoolers, Elementary, or Middle and High School students. The guidance counselor may choose the form most appropriate, given the child's age.

    Psychological Assessment

    A psychological assessment is conducted by a certified school psychologist or a licensed educational psychologist. The psychological evaluation may contain information gained from both formal and informal means and may include: parent interview, student interview, cognitive assessment, academic assessment, socio- emotional assessment, classroom recommendations, and diagnostic impressions.