What type of assessments should be clearly indicated to find a student eligible for special education services under IDEA?

To determine a student's eligibility for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), it is critical to utilize assessments that provide objective evidence of the student's academic capabilities and cognitive abilities. Achievement and intelligence tests are specifically designed to measure a student's performance and potential in various academic areas. These tests help to identify whether a student has a significant discrepancy between their ability (intelligence) and their performance (achievement), which is a key criterion for assessing eligibility for special education services.

The need for standardized achievement and intelligence tests stems from the law’s requirement to document and substantiate that a student has a disability impacting their educational performance, thereby necessitating specialized services and supports. While other forms of assessments, such as behavioral rating scales or social skills assessments, may provide valuable insights into a student's needs, they do not directly address the academic and cognitive areas that IDEA emphasizes when determining eligibility for special education. Thus, focusing on achievement and intelligence tests aligns directly with the legal requirements for evaluating a student's eligibility.