High-stakes testing of students with disabilities

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