General Assessment

In Pennsylvania, fair assessment is defined as a process used by teachers and students before, during, and after instruction to provide feedback and adjust ongoing teaching and learning to improve student achievement and to provide appropriate challenge for all students at their instructional levels.

Assessing students who are deaf or hard of hearing, however, may present significant challenges in addition to those related with evaluating students in general. Additional problematic factors when testing students who are deaf or hard of hearing include their level of proficiency in English, the test administrator’s knowledge of the student’s preferred mode of communication, and the receptive and expressive communication skills of the student taking the test.

There are relatively few assessments that are designed specifically for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, however, the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) has compiled a list of assessments for consideration.