Presented by: Ortiz

This webinar will present current research on language, cognitive, and academic development and their application to evaluation within a comprehensive, research-based framework for generating valid data to support conclusions and decisions regarding the presence or absence of various types of disorders with English learners. Participants will be given instruction covering the implementation of evaluation procedures in a step-by-step manner for adequately measuring various abilities, guidelines for evaluating the validity of test scores, rules governing the selection and use of scores generated via testing, and specific guidance via case study example that illustrates application and use of research-based methods and nondiscriminatory tools and procedures. Main topics include: understanding validity problems in testing; why typical methods fail in establishing test score validity; use of a broad, comprehensive framework for evaluation that can be utilized by any practitioner regardless of bilingual capability; use of the Culture-Language Interpretive Matrix and C-LIM+ATE in evaluating exclusionary factors; and integration of the Ortiz PVAT for valid measurement of vocabulary and general language acquisition. The knowledge and skills gained will be useful to practitioners at all levels and provides a solid base for engaging in evaluation of English learners that constitutes defensible and current best practices.