SCHOOL-DISTRICT TESTING POLICIES AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES - A NATIONAL SURVEY

This study sought to survey the testing policies of local school distr icts nationwide. Specifically, the objectives of this study were to (a ) determine if school districts have policies concerning standardized and nonstandardized testing, (b) identify the specific features of the se testing policies, and (c) discern if these policies include provisi ons for students with disabilities. A survey was sent to 550 school di stricts nationwide selected through stratified random sampling. The re turn rate was 38.9% (N = 214). Of the 214 school districts responding, 58.9% (N = 128) had a policy on standardized testing, while 22% (N = 47) had a policy on nonstandardized testing. In addition, 60.5% of sch ool districts and 55.6% of school districts had policies requiring som e type of accommodations for students with disabilities in the adminis tration of standardized tests and nonstandardized tests. Other results of the study, limitations of the study, and future research needs are discussed.