Classifications
This classification refers to significantly below average intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, typically with IQ scores about 2 standard deviations below the mean.
What is Intellectual Disability?
This neurodevelopmental disorder is marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, and this mood disorder is characterized by persistent sadness or loss of interest.
Bonus: What is a common treatment plan?
What are ADHD and Major Depressive Disorder?
Bonus: Behavioral therapy, classroom accommodations, CBT, possible medication (stimulants, SSRIs)
This academic test evaluates skills like Broad Reading and Broad Math and is used to assess for learning disabilities. Name the test and the classification ranges from the manual.
Bonus: What is the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) Theory that the WJ IV is based on?
What is the WJ IV (Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement)?
Very Superior: 131 and above
Superior: 121–130
High Average: 111–120
Average: 90–110
Low Average: 80–89
Low: 70–79
Very Low: 69 and below
Bonus:
General Intelligence (g): The overall cognitive ability.
Broad Abilities: About 9 broad abilities like Fluid Reasoning (Gf), Crystallized Knowledge (Gc), Processing Speed (Gs), and Working Memory (Gwm).
Narrow Abilities: More specific skills under each broad ability.
This self-report screening tool assesses symptoms of depression in children and adolescents ages 7–17. Name the assessment and explain its purpose.
What is the CDI-2 (Children’s Depression Inventory, 2nd Edition)?
Purpose:
Measures depressive symptoms such as negative mood, interpersonal difficulties, and functional impairment
Provides a Total Score and subscale scores
Bonus: What score indicates clinical concern?
T-score ≥ 65 indicates elevated depressive symptoms
T-score ≥ 70 is clinically significant
What is validity?
Bonus: Describe the three types of validity.
This term refers to how well a test measures what it is intended to measure. So like the accuracy of a test- whether it measures what it claims to measure.
Bonus:
Content Validity: Does the test cover all relevant parts of the construct? (e.g., a math test should include a range of math skills)
Construct Validity: Does the test actually measure the theoretical construct? (e.g., does a depression scale really measure depression?)
Criterion-Related Validity: Does the test correlate with an external outcome?
Concurrent Validity: Correlates with current performance
Predictive Validity: Correlates with future performance
This classification includes disorders like dyslexia and dyscalculia, where students demonstrate academic skills substantially below expected levels, typically at least 1.5 to 2 standard deviations below the mean.
What is Specific Learning Disability?
This anxiety disorder involves excessive worry about multiple areas of life, and this phobia is characterized by intense fear of social situations.
Bonus: What is a common treatment plan?
What are Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder?
Bonus: CBT, exposure therapy, mindfulness, possible SSRIs
This academic test measures reading, math, and writing skills and is often used alongside the WISC-V. Name the test and list the classification ranges used in the manual.
What is the WIAT-4?
Very Superior: 130 and above
Superior: 120–129
High Average: 110–119
Average: 90–109
Low Average: 80–89
Borderline: 70–79
Extremely Low: 69 and below
This broadband behavior rating scale assesses emotional and behavioral functioning in children and adolescents, with Parent, Teacher, and Self-Report forms. Name the assessment and describe what it measures.
Bonus: What are the score classifications?
What is the BASC-3 (Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition)?
Internalizing Problems (e.g., anxiety, depression, somatization)
Externalizing Problems (e.g., aggression, hyperactivity, conduct problems)
Adaptive Skills (e.g., social skills, leadership)
Clinical Scales:
T-score Mean = 50, SD = 10
Higher scores = more concerns
At-Risk: T-scores 60–69
Clinically Significant: T-scores 70+
Adaptive Scales:
Higher scores = better functioning
T-scores below 30 = Clinically Significant concerns
T-scores 31–40 = At-Risk
What is reliability? And list the types.
Bonus: Describe the three types of reliability.
It refers to the consistency of a test or measurement tool
Test-Retest Reliability: Measures stability over time (same test, same person, different day)
Inter-Rater Reliability: Measures consistency between different scorers or raters
Internal Consistency: Measures how well items on the same test measure the same construct (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha)
Students with this classification show significant delays in communication skills and may have receptive or expressive language scores 1.5 to 2 standard deviations below the mean.
What is Speech or Language Impairment?
This trauma-related disorder can develop after exposure to a terrifying event, and this attachment-related disorder involves inhibited, emotionally withdrawn behavior toward caregivers.
Bonus: What is a common treatment plan?
What are Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Reactive Attachment Disorder?
Bonus: Trauma-focused CBT, family therapy, building safe and stable relationships
This cognitive assessment measures intellectual functioning in children ages 6-16 and provides a Full Scale IQ and five index scores. Tell me about this test and its score ranges.
Bonus: What tests make up the full scale IQ?
What is the WISC-V?
Mean = 100, SD = 15
Very Low: Below 70
Borderline: 70–79
Low Average: 80–89
Average: 90–109
High Average: 110–119
Superior: 120–129
Very Superior: 130+
Bonus: Similarities, Vocabulary, Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, Figure Weights, Digit Span, Coding
This is a behavior rating scale used to assess ADHD symptoms, executive functioning, learning problems, peer/family relations, and emotional distress. It includes Parent, Teacher, and Self-Report forms. Name the assessment, say whether it is broad or narrow, and explain the scoring.
What is the Conners 4?
Broad assessment
T-score Mean = 50, SD = 10
T ≥ 65 = Elevated, T ≥ 70 = Very Elevated
Typically what percentage of students do we want in Tier 1?
80%
This category is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors, often diagnosed by age 3.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
This disorder is characterized by repetitive, intrusive thoughts and compulsions, and this mood disorder involves alternating periods of depression and elevated mood.
Bonus: What is a common treatment plan?
What are Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder?
Bonus: CBT with exposure and response prevention for OCD, mood stabilizers and therapy for Bipolar
This phonological processing test is used to assess skills like phonological awareness and rapid naming. Name the test and list the classification ranges from the manual.
What is the CTOPP-2 (Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing – 2nd Edition)?
Very Superior: 130 and above
Superior: 120–129
High Average: 110–119
Average: 90–109
Low Average: 80–89
Poor: 70–79
Very Poor: Below 70
This adaptive behavior assessment is often used in eligibility decisions for Intellectual Disability and other developmental concerns. It measures conceptual, social, and practical skills. Name the tool, say whether it is broad or narrow, and explain the score ranges.
Bonus: It is used for what IDEA eligibility categories typically?
What is the Vineland-3?
Broad assessment (adaptive behavior)
Domains: Communication, Daily Living Skills, Socialization, Motor Skills
Standard Scores (Mean = 100, SD = 15)
Very Low ≤ 69, Low = 70–84, Adequate = 90–110, Very High ≥ 131
Bonus: Intellectual Disability, Autism, Developmental Delay
What are microaggressions?
Bonus: Why are microaggressions important to recognize in school psychology or education settings?
Microaggressions are brief and commonplace verbal, behavioral, or environmental slights (often unintentional) that convey hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to people based on their marginalized identity.
Examples:
Saying "You’re so articulate" to a person of color
Telling a student, “You don’t look autistic”
Assuming someone’s pronouns or misgendering them repeatedly
Bonus: Because they impact students' sense of safety, identity, and belonging, and contribute to cumulative stress known as “racial battle fatigue” or minority stress.
This classification includes significant difficulties in emotional regulation or behavior, not primarily due to intellectual, sensory, or health factors, and must adversely affect educational performance.
What is Emotional Disturbance?
This neurodevelopmental disorder is characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted behaviors, and this specific learning disorder affects reading skills.
Bonus: What is a common treatment plan?
What are Autism Spectrum Disorder and Specific Learning Disorder (Reading)?
Bonus: Social skills training, ABA therapy for Autism; targeted reading interventions for SLD
What skills or areas does the KTEA-3 assess?
Reading (e.g., Letter & Word Recognition, Reading Comprehension)
Mathematics (e.g., Math Concepts & Applications, Math Computation)
Written Language (e.g., Spelling, Written Expression)
Oral Language (e.g., Listening Comprehension, Oral Expression)
This executive functioning rating scale includes Parent, Teacher, and Self-Report forms and measures how well a child regulates attention, behavior, and emotion in everyday settings. Name the tool, say whether it is broad or narrow, and explain the scoring.
What is the BRIEF-2 (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function)?
Narrow assessment (focused on executive functioning)
Domains: Inhibit, Shift, Emotional Control, Initiate, Working Memory, Plan/Organize, etc.
T-score ≥ 65 = Elevated
T-score ≥ 70 = Clinically Significant
What is Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory?
Bonus: Which system involves the most direct, face-to-face interactions with the child?
This theoretical model explains how a child’s development is influenced by multiple layers of their environment, from direct interactions to larger societal systems.
Microsystem: Parent-child relationship, teacher-student interaction
Mesosystem: Communication between a child’s teacher and parent
Exosystem: Parent’s workplace policies that affect family time
Macrosystem: Cultural values, laws, or societal attitudes (e.g., views on disability)
Chronosystem: Major life transitions or historical events (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic, parental divorce)
Bonus: Microsystem