Issues and Strategies for Measuring Outcomes for Children with

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Issues and Strategies for Measuring Outcomes for
Children with Speech-Only Eligibility

• Jim J Lesko, Ed.D.
• Delaware Department of Education
• jlesko_at_doe.k12.de.us

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Assessment Framework for Children with Preschool
Delays

• Delaware uses the Child Outcome Summary Form
• Multiple sources of information/data are used to
  determine each childs COSF rating
• Approved list of measurement tools
• Children with disabilities other than PSD
  assessed with comprehensive curriculum measure
  aligned with state EC guidelines
• Measurement typically involves 2 or more on team

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Assessment Framework for Children with Preschool
Delays

• Recognize that the SLP may be the only person
  that completes the ratings
• Emphasis on parent involvement as an important
  source of data on other areas of development
• Emphasis on other care/education practitioners as
  an important source of data on other areas of
  development
• Measurement occurs at entry, every spring and
  exit

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Challenges

• Sheer numbers on caseloads
• Authentic assessment parameters
• Lack of opportunity for observation
• Expertise area is speech and language

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Process Framework for Outcome 1 and 3

• SLP will administer one of four possible
  assessment instruments to obtain pre/post
  developmental information
• Assessment instruments fall into 2 categories
• Parent Survey
• Interview Measure
• Therapist chooses either parent survey or
  interview measure

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Approved Instruments

• Outcome 1 and 3 Tools
• Parent Surveys
• Ages and Stages Questionnaire and
• Ages and Stages Social/Emotional Quest.
• Or Child Development Inventory
• Interview Tools
• Vineland Scales II
• Adaptive Behavior Assessment System
• Outcome 2 Tools
• Appropriate speech assessment tools such as the
  Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation, Language
  Samples

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Process

• The state has made the assumption that children
  identified as preschool speech delayed are not
  presenting developmental issues in other areas
  hence the use of surveys and questionnaires
• We are also going with the assumption that
  parents and/or EC practitioners are fairly
  accurate reporters of their childrens development

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Process

• We have worked with SLPs to monitor the survey
  responses and identify when red flags are raised
• When red flags occur the SLP refers the
  child/family for further investigation or
  develops a close monitoring plan
• ie., child presents with red flag in behavior and
  child has severe articulation concern
• ie. child presents with red flag in language or
  motor and has moderate articulation concern

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Process

• Literacy levels of families is a concern with the
  surveys
• Return rate of surveys is a concern
• Few complaints from SLPs on the process seen as a
  success
• Assessing children that are English language
  learners remains a concern