Synthesizing Assessment Information

When you begin to synthesize assessment information, there are several key considerations. Listed below are questions to aide you in framing the synthesis of assessment information.

• When I synthesize assessment information, do I use positive and objective family-friendly language, which describes a child’s strengths and needs?
• How well do my written assessment reports and conversations with families and team members synthesize the information? 
• Is my synthesis clear and comprehensive, yet reasonably concise?
• Would it be beneficial to synthesize assessment information around the three early childhood outcomes when writing my assessment report?

Once evaluation and assessment procedures are complete, information and findings must be summarized, documented in a written report, and communicated with families and among team members.  This is the process of synthesizing assessment information.  In synthesizing assessment information, team members summarize the child’s strengths and needs.  This information serves as the foundation for IFSP or IEP development. Multiple methods of assessment are often utilized. IFSP or IEP decisions are not made solely upon one, singular assessment tool.

Early Intervention

In the context of the early intervention process, the child’s developmental status in all five areas is described in relation to widely held expectations for the child’s age and in relation to pertinent health, medical, and other information about the child.  The child’s strengths and needs are described in functional terms, as they have been assessed in natural environments and correlated to the three early childhood outcomes.   This descriptive synthesis of assessment information is the basis for the Present Levels of Development (PLOD) and the Strengths and Needs Summary which are required parts of the IFSP document.

A child’s present levels of development, along with a family concerns, priorities and resources and a family’s routines in natural environments, assist the team to describe a child’s strengths and needs in functional, authentic terms around the early childhood outcomes.  This leads to the development of functional child outcomes for the IFSP, as well as the design of services and strategies to support the child meeting those outcomes.  In addition, family outcomes are developed for the IFSP according to family concerns, priorities and resources related to supporting their child’s development.  The team, in full partnership, carries out the IFSP development with the family.

Preschool Special Education

In the context of the preschool special education process, the child’s present levels of development and performance in the appropriate areas of development and learning related to the suspected disability are described.  These strengths and needs are also described in functional terms correlated to the three early childhood outcomes.  This descriptive synthesis of assessment information is the basis for the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP)statement, which is required on the IEP document.

The Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance statement shapes the development of goals for the IEP, as well as the determination of special education and related services to support the child achieving those goals.  The IEP is the vehicle for the child to access and progress in the general curriculum, or activities appropriate for preschoolers.

Toolkits

Toolkits have been created to support you in the synthesis of assessment information. The IFSP and IEP toolkits share common tools, as well as tools unique to each age group and the required information. These toolkits are designed to help structure your thinking and synthesize assessment information aligned with the three global early childhood outcomes.

Click the resource links below to unpack the toolkit.

    IFSP Toolkit

• COS Intake Interview
• Initial Contact Assessment Planning
• Observation Worksheet
• Family Strengths and Needs Worksheet IFSP
• Sharing Assessment Results - IFSP
• Synthesis of Assessment Information - Strengths and Needs Summary Examples

    IEP Toolkit

• Observation Worksheet
• Preschool Special Education Family Worksheet
• Sharing Assessment Results-IEP
• Synthesis of Assessment Information
• Synthesis of Assessment Information Example