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.
.png)
Assessment Practices Resources
Events
CalECSE offers Virtual Training Sessions on a variety of topics available at no cost.
Drawing on current research, we will explore how autism can present differently in boys and girls, including variations in communication styles, social behaviors, mannerisms, special interests, and play behaviors. Research shows girls are often diagnosed later than boys and that some current assessment measures are less sensitive to autistic girls.
Tools
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).
Use this downloadable, fillable PDF during your assessments in order to capture play-based child observations!
Find follow-up questions and answers here from the California Early Childhood Special Education (CalECSE) Network’s Kindergarten Transition Assessments Training
This is a month-to-month guide with best practices for transitioning children from preschool to the next step in their educational journey.
A writable tool - Preschool Initial Referral Intake Form
This checklist is a handy tool for practitioners when implementing play-based assessments.
Training
Learn about the essential components for conducting comprehensive, legally defensible initial early childhood assessments for English Language Learners.
CalECSE Assessment Practices Exemplar Lead and Speech-Language Pathologist Linsey Sandrew and Licensed Educational Psychologist Carrie Rodrigues presented an engaging session exploring the power of play-based assessment.
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).
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.
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
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.
Learn about Typical Speech & Language Development, Components of Comprehensive Assessments, Gathering Parent Input, Play-Based Assessment and so much more!
This session covers the essential components for conducting comprehensive, legally defensible initial preschool special education assessments.
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
Discover how to make your occupational therapy (OT) assessments more meaningful, accurate, and impactful in early childhood settings. This no-cost, one-hour session equips both seasoned OTs and those new to early learning environments with the knowledge and tools to confidently evaluate young children’s present levels of functioning and eligibility for school-based services.
Outside Resources
