This course examines the role of assessment in special education as a tool for understanding students' strengths, needs, and learning profiles and for guiding evidence-based instructional decision-making. Students explore the purposes, legal foundations, and ethical responsibilities that shape assessment practices in school settings while developing the knowledge and skills needed to interpret a variety of assessment data. The course addresses formal assessments used in special education evaluation, curriculum-based measurement and progress monitoring, behavioral and functional assessment, and classroom-based formative assessment. Through case studies, authentic data analysis, and applied learning activities, students learn to interpret assessment results, identify meaningful patterns in student performance, and synthesize information from multiple sources to inform eligibility decisions, instructional planning, progress monitoring, and Individualized Education Program (IEP) development. Emphasis is placed on culturally and linguistically responsive assessment practices, ehtical decision-making, collaboration with families and multidisciplinary teams, and the effective use of assessment data to design equitable, individualized educational supports that promote meaningful learning outcomes for diverse learners. [ 3 credits ]