OSERS-OSEP: National Assessment Center, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.326G

The purpose of this grant competition is to establish a National Assessment Center to improve children with disabilities’ participation in and performance on State and districtwide assessments. The center will provide technical assistance, support model demonstration projects, disseminate useful information, and implement activities supported by scientifically based research. The goal of this program is to promote academic achievement and improve results for children with disabilities. Some key aspects of the project include: • Increasing capacity of State educational agencies and local educational agencies to use assessment data to increase accountability and learning for children with disabilities • Developing products and providing technical assistance services to achieve improved participation in and performance on State and districtwide assessments for children with disabilities • Improving alternate assessments, including those that use adaptive technologies, to provide timely and useful information to educators, students, and families • Supporting States in meeting the 1 percent threshold requirement for alternate assessments The project will achieve the following expected outcomes: • Increased capacity of State educational agencies and local educational agencies to use assessment data to increase accountability and learning for children with disabilities • Increased capacity of parents of children with disabilities to understand the statutory and regulatory bases for and the benefits of full participation of all children with disabilities in assessments The project will be awarded for a period of up to 60 months, with a maximum award of $1,000,000.