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I. Course Title: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation in Early Childhood Special Education

II. Course Number: EDSP 437

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: EDSP 360 or EDSP 361, and 2.5 GPA.

V. Course Description: 

Provides students with knowledge of the selection, administration, and interpretation of formal and informal assessment techniques for young children with disabling and at-risk conditions and their families.

Note(s): This course is a required professional education course for the early childhood special education teaching licensure option.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

Students will be provided knowledge and experience in assessing development of children, birth to age 5, in the areas of cognition, social-emotional, communication, motor, and adaptive skills. A variety of formal instruments and informal procedures will be presented and required of students in order to make valid decisions about children鈥檚 learning and development.

Course content includes:

• Eligibility and diagnosis of disabling and at-risk conditions
• Age-appropriate and stage-appropriate methods for documenting, assessing, and interpreting development and learning
• Progress monitoring for growth compared to same age, typically developing peers and functioning in environments where same age peers would normally attend to include settings that the families choose
• Curriculum development and implementation
• Curriculum-based assessments for instructional planning
• Writing as an instructional and assessment tool for candidates to generate, gather, plan, organize, and present ideas in writing to communicate for a variety of purposes
• Communication with families to acquire and to share information relevant to assessment
• Development of Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs)

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

This course will involve a lecture format with class discussion, audio/visual presentations, simulations, and written exams. Students will be required to administer and score diagnostic tests, as well as write assessment reports.

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

Goals, objectives, and assignments address the Virginia Department of Education regulations for preparing educators and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Initial Preparation Standards and Specialty Set Knowledge and Skill Items. Specialty set included in this course cover competencies for Early Childhood Special Education.

In order select, administer, and interpret formal and informal assessment techniques for young children with disabling and at-risk conditions and their families, this course will prepare each student to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to use basic terminology found in assessment 
2. Discuss and develop knowledge of legal provisions and ethical principles regarding assessment of young children with disabilities, including the requirements that distinguish among at-risk, developmental delay, and disability 
3. Discuss and develop knowledge of screening, prereferral, referral, and classification procedures 
4. Describe the use and limitations of assessment instruments 
5. Administer and interpret nonbiased formal assessments in the five developmental domains 
6. Use assessment information in making eligibility, program, and placement decisions for young children with disabilities, including those from culturally linguistically diverse backgrounds 
7. Report assessment results to all stakeholders using effective communication skills, emphasizing the child鈥檚 strengths and needs and focusing on developmental domains and functional concerns 
8. Assist families in identifying their concerns, resources, and priorities 
9. Discuss and develop knowledge of the role of the family in the assessment process 
10. Use verbal, nonverbal, and writing language effectively 

VIII. Assessment Measures:

Assessment measures may include, but are not limited to:

1. Formal tests and/or quizzes to assess mastery of course goals.
2. Class discussions, small group activities, and reflective writing.
3. Assessments on young children and writing reports.
4. Assessment of a family鈥檚 resources, priorities, and concerns.

 

Other Course Information: This course is a required professional education course for the early childhood special education teaching licensure option.

 

Review and Approval

September 2001 Alice Anderson

April 2019 Sharon Gilbert

March 01, 2021