Disproportionality is the over- or under-representation of racially, culturally, ethnically, or linguistically diverse groups of students in special education, restrictive learning environments, or school disciplinary actions (e.g., suspensions and expulsions), compared to other groups.

Accommodations are changes to instruction or assessment administration that are designed to increase students’ access to materials or enable them to demonstrate what they know by mitigating the impact of their disability. They also are designed to provide equity, not advantage, for children with disabilities. Accommodations might include assistive [..]

AYP is a statewide accountability measurement mandated by the 2002 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA 2002). AYP requires each state to ensure that all schools and districts make annual growth in student proficiency, as defined by states and approved by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2011, the U.S. Department [..]

The aim line, which is sometimes referred to as the goal line, represents the target rate of student progress over time. The aim line is constructed by connecting the data point representing the student’s initial performance level and the data point corresponding to the student’s year-end goal. The aim line should be compared to the trend line to h [..]

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that established a set of educational standards for Kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics, which states may voluntarily adopt. As of 2013, 45 states and the District of Columbia have voluntarily adopted the Common Core State Standards. The standards [..]

CEIS is a set of coordinated services for students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 (with a particular emphasis on K–3 students) who are not currently identified as needing special education or related services but who need additional academic and behavioral support to succeed in a general education environment. The 2004 reauthorization of the Indi [..]

The core curriculum includes the materials and instructional standards required of all students in the general education setting. Core curricula often are instituted at the elementary and secondary levels by local school boards, departments of education, or other administrative agencies charged with overseeing education.

A criterion-referenced assessment measures student performance in relation to a specific standard. It typically is used to identify a student’s strengths and weaknesses in relation to an age-group or grade-level standard; however, it does not compare students to other students.

CBA refers to an assessment that has three components: (1) measurement materials that are aligned with the annual curriculum, (2) measurement that occurs frequently, and (3) assessment data that are used to formulate instructional decisions. CBA is an umbrella term that includes curriculum-based measurement.

CBM, a type of curriculum-based assessment, is a measurement approach used to screen students or to monitor student progress in mathematics, reading, writing, spelling, and other content areas. With CBM, teachers and schools can assess individual responsiveness to instruction. When a student proves unresponsive to the instructional program, CBM sig [..]