Diagnostic Evaluations + Basic Screener Assessments

At ALS we offer two types of assessments: 

• Diagnostic educational evaluations, administered by a Licensed Educational Diagnostician (optional)
• Basic screener assessments, adminstered by a certified reading specialist (all new students begin here if a diagnosis is not desired or needed)

Why do we begin with an assessment before we start working with a student? 

We believe educational assessments play a crucial role in guiding and enhancing teacher instruction. They provide valuable insights into a students learning progress, strengths, and areas of improvement. By conducting assessments, we gain a comprehensive understanding of each student's knowledge, processing skills, and academic abilities. This information allows us to tailor instruction to meet the individual needs of our students, ensuring that learning experiences are both effective and engaging. 

Assessments help us to identify gaps in understanding, which shows us how to adjust our teaching strategies, materials, and pacing to provide targeted support. 

Moreover, assessments enable us to track students growth over time, identifying trends and patterns that inform instructional decisions. Every 4-6 weeks we do a mini progress check-in so we can monitior the effectiveness of our teaching methods and make necessary adjustments to optimize student success. 

Ultimately, educational assessments (both diagnostic and nondiagnostic) serve as a critical tool for us to assess, guide, and improve our instructional practices, fostering a more effective and student-centered learning environment.