Gaining first-hand experience with the completion and application of multidisciplinary psychoeducational reports is key to being prepared for a future in special education. In collaborating with a mentor on this process, you will be better prepared to complete these tasks on your own in the future.
Allocate at least 2 hours in a special education/inclusive classroom with students grades 6-12 to support this field experience. Prior to the field experience, review the requirements of all clinical field experiences for this course.
Meet with a certified special education teacher in a secondary school (grades 6-12) setting and discuss the components of a multidisciplinary psychoeducational report. Interview the mentor teacher on the following:
- The components of the psychoeducational report and purpose when determining eligibility.
- A discussion of the special education teacher’s role in the evaluation process and how they collaborate with the family and team during the determination of eligibility.
- A discussion of the types of artifacts, observations, and other forms of data collected from the general education teacher for the multidisciplinary team.
- The names and descriptions of assessments used by special education teachers when determining eligibility and how they contribute to the eligibility determination and writing of the IEP.
- A description of how a special education teacher addresses the possible effects of environment, culture, and language when choosing and administering assessments.
- How the special education teacher interprets and reports on formal and informal assessment techniques that minimize bias.
If possible, observe and participate with the mentor teacher in evaluating a student for the multidisciplinary psychoeducational report.
Use any remaining field experience hours to assist the teacher in providing instruction and support to the class.
After completing your field experience, in 250-500 words, summarize and reflect upon your interview by describing the components and purpose of the psychoeducational evaluation report. Discuss the special educator’s role, including with collaboration, data collection, assessment options and determining eligibility, considerations for assessment choice, and interpreting and reporting on assessments. Reflecting on your assignment from Topic 1, discuss whether you would approach assessment and eligibility differently based on this experience.
While APA format is not required for this assignment, solid academic writing is expected. Any in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.