Administrative Procedure 363

SPECIALIZED ASSESSMENT

Background

The School supports the use of specialized assessments which provide measures of intellectual ability, academic achievement, emotional and behavioural development and/or physical development to provide relevant information regarding a student’s educational performance. When the School seeks more information that is available through regular classroom observations and assignments, a specialized assessment may be recommended.
The information gathered from a specialized assessment assists in developing an appropriate, individual learning plan. Before a specialized assessment is undertaken, the parent / guardian must give informed consent. This means the parent/ independent student has been provided with all the information relevant to the activity for which consent is sought, understands and agrees, in writing, to the carrying out of the activity and understands that giving consent is voluntary and may be withdrawn at any time.

Procedures

1. Written informed consent of the parent or independent student shall be obtained for a specialized assessment or referral.
2. Qualified professionals shall conduct specialized assessments, interpret results and provide programming recommendations to parents, teachers, and other appropriate personnel.
3. Specialized assessments shall be conducted in accordance with the expectations outlined in Alberta Education’s Standards for Psycho-educational Assessment and by the standards and guidelines set by each professional organization for its members.
4. A notation shall be made in the Student Record of any specialized assessment of a student provided by the School, which includes the name of the person who conducted the assessment and the date of the assessment.
5. Specialized assessment results shall be stored in the Student Record.
6. Release of information from a specialized assessment to a third party shall only be released with written informed consent of the parent or independent student, or in compliance with a court order.
7. Parents or independent students are responsible for costs of specialized assessments obtained outside the School, unless the decision to obtain an outside specialized assessment is made by the Superintendent.

References: Section 11, 18, 25, 26, 31, 32, 33, 41, 52, 53, 55, 56, 196, 197, 222, 225 Education Act Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
Practice Review of Teachers and Teacher Leaders Regulation 92/2019 Student Record Regulation 97/2019
Ministerial Order 015/2004 – Standards for Special Education Ministerial Order 028/2020 – Student Learning
Teaching Quality Standard
Guide to Education ECS to Grade 12
Achievement Testing Program Grades 3, 6 and 9 General Information Bulletin Diploma Examinations Program General Information Bulletin
Principles for Fair Student Assessment Practices for Education in Canada