How to Compare Special Education and Mainstream Students
When you compare special education and mainstream students you are looking for differences that indicate that the special education student needs adaptive learning strategies in order to be a successful student. Follow these steps to do just that.
Things You'll Need
- Medical release form
- Student files
- PT, OT and Speech therapy orders for student evaluations
Instructions
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1
Administer standardized tests. In the past, performance on standardized tests was the only way to determine if a student could be classified as a "special needs" student. Today, standardized tests should be one of many tools and tests used to determine a student's academic and adaptive needs.
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2
Request medical information. If the student has a medical condition that impairs their functional abilities at school it needs to be documented by a medical professional. A student's medical records can be requested to identify medical conditions such as ADD, ADHD, Autism, MS, MD as well as physical conditions that impair a student's functional abilities.
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3
Have the school's physical therapist and occupational therapist evaluate the student to determine if their level of fine motor and gross motor skills compares to that of their peers.
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4
Determine if the special education student's speech development is at a level that can compare to that of mainstream students. This can be accomplished through speech activities and observations.
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Observe the students interactions with their mainstream student peers. Look for social irregularities such as aggression towards other students or isolation from other students. The type of activities that the student participates in during free time should also be evaluated to determine if the student is functioning at a level that compares to other mainstream students.
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Evaluate the special education student's academic record and performance. For example you can look at writing samples, math homework or you can review their test performance. Use this information to compare their performance to that of mainstream students.
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