National Center on Educational Outcomes
The National Center on Educational Outcomes provides national
leadership in the participation of students with disabilities in
national and state assessments, standards-setting efforts, and
graduation requirements.
The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) was
established in 1990 to provide national leadership in designing and
building educational assessments and accountability systems that
appropriately monitor educational results for all students,
including students with disabilities and students with limited
English proficiency. Since its establishment, NCEO has been:
- Working with states and federal agencies to identify important
outcomes of education for students with disabilities.
- Examining the participation of students in national and state
assessments, including the use of accommodations and alternate
assessments.
- Evaluating national and state practices in reporting assessment
information on students with disabilities.
- Bridging general education, special education, and other
systems as they work to increase accountability for results of
education for all students.
- Conducting directed research in the area of assessment and
accountability.
NCEO focuses its efforts in the following areas:
- Needs Assessments and Information Gathering on the
participation and performance of students with disabilities in
state and national assessments and other educational reform
efforts.
- Dissemination and Technical Assistance through publications,
presentations, technical assistance, and other networking
activities.
- State Data Collection Technical Assistance to assist states in
continuing to meet the challenges of collecting comprehensive,
accurate, and consistent data on the participation and performance
of students with disabilities.
- Collaboration and Leadership to build on the expertise of
others and to develop leaders who can conduct needed research and
provide additional technical assistance.
NCEO offers the following kinds of materials and services for
state personnel, educators, parents, and others concerned with the
educational outcomes of all students:
- An extensive publications list that includes technical reports,
state activity updates, policy documents, and self-study
guides.
- Criteria for evaluating existing policies on large-scale
assessments.
- Recommendations for developing assessment policies and
guidelines for participation, accommodations, reporting, and
accountability that include all students.
- Current information on assessment projects and other efforts to
collect data on the educational outcomes of all students.
- A national network of people who can assist states and other
agencies as they consider assessment issues.
Services Provided
- Needs Assessments and Information Gathering
- Dissemination and Technical Assistance
- State Data Collection Technical Assistance
- Collaboration and Leadership