High-stakes testing of students with disabilities

States and districts are required by the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (Public Law 105-17) to have students with disabilities participate in state and district assessments and to report on their performance. High-stakes testing is a significant part of standards-based reform and educational accountability. However, there are both intended and unintended consequences of high-stakes testing on students with disabilities. There is the potential for these assessments to result in many benefits for students with disabilities, but educators need to know about the ways to ensure that this happens. Participation on Individualized Education Plan teams, good decisions about accommodations and alternate assessments, and careful thought about diploma options and related issues can help students realize the benefits of high-stakes testing.