Assessment Practices
The Assessment Exemplar Lead provides assessment tool models and practices as well as a deep knowledge of the assessments that are utilized for gathering information and determining special education eligibility for the preschool aged child. This Exemplar Lead exhibits exceptional practices for assessing the preschool child across disabilities, assessing preschool children who are English language learners, and in utilizing a range of assessment tools. The Assessment Exemplar Lead is also highly knowledgeable and may also utilize an innovative assessment model such as (but not limited to) a diagnostic assessment classroom.
Exemplar Leads for Assessment Practices
Piedmont Unified School District
Linsey Sandrew is a Speech and Language Pathologist based in Oakland, California. Linsey studied linguistics and Spanish literature at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), which laid the groundwork for her study of communication. In 2013, Linsey earned a Master of Science in Communicative Disorders from San Francisco State University, where she focused on the study of AAC use in schools.
Linsey has primarily worked as a school-based SLP with a focus on preschool and elementary school in the bay area. Linsey has extensive experience assessing and working with students with childhood apraxia of speech, phonological processing disorders, Autism, gestalt language learners, and students who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication methods. She believes in drawing from a multitude of methodologies and strategies to support each unique student to support and enhance their communication.
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Assessment Practices Resources
Learn about:
Typical Speech & Language Development, Components of a Comprehensive Assessments, Gathering Parent Input, Play-Based Assessment and Collecting Language Samples, Observations: Clinical & Naturalistic, Oral Motor Examination, Speech Sound Production Assessment, Receptive & Expressive Language Assessments, Pragmatic Language and Social Skills, Voice & Fluency, Assessing English Language Learners, Ed Code & Educational Impact for Early Childhood
Support Materials
This one page resource provides a quick, at-a-glance look at the difference between a medical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and an educational eligibility of autism under the California Education Code, 5 CCR § 3030(b).
Learn in-depth information on:
Why Comprehensive and Accurate Autism and Intellectual Disability assessments Are So Important, Autism Assessments Under Ed Code, Ed Code vs. Medical Diagnosis, Intellectual Disability Assessments Under Ed Code, Special Cases, African American Children, What to Do if a Child Cannot Participate in Cognitive Testing, & Delivering Hard News
A writable tool - Preschool Initial Referral Intake Form
Learn about the essential components for conducting comprehensive, legally defensible initial early childhood assessments for English Language Learners.
Support Materials
What Will Be Covered:
• Speech and language developmental milestones
• Recommended assessment tools and measures
• Strategies for assessing pragmatic language skills
• Play-based assessment techniques
• Tips for taking accurate language samples
• Insights into assessing gestalt language learners
• Navigating eligibility determinations under Education Code
Support Materials
This virtual session is designed to help IEP teams navigate this important transition with confidence. We’ll break down the intent behind the Education Code, guiding you to make informed, legally defensible, child-centered decisions.
Support Materials
Use this downloadable, fillable PDF during your assessments in order to capture play-based child observations!
Join CalECSE and our special guests Elizabeth Schroeder, Project Director, and Shawn Kaplan, Training Manager, from the Desired Results Access Project for a no-cost, virtual session to gain essential information and resources for using the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) for children with Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
Find follow-up questions and answers here from the California Early Childhood Special Education (CalECSE) Network’s Kindergarten Transition Assessments Training
CalECSE offers Virtual Training Sessions on a variety of topics available at no cost.
This session covers the essential components for conducting comprehensive, legally defensible initial preschool special education assessments.
Support Materials
Learn to conduct thorough and impactful assessments to determine eligibility under the category of Autism.This session takes an in-depth look at how Autism might manifest in early childhood and then examines how to best determine if a child meets Education Code criteria for special education under Autism.
Support Materials
Join CalECSE Assessment Practices Exemplar Lead and Speech-Language Pathologist Linsey Sandrew and Licensed Educational Psychologist Carrie Rodrigues for an engaging session exploring the power of play-based assessment.
