Assessment in Special and Inclusive Education

About James YsseldykeJohn SalviaSara Witmer

Sara Witmer (formerly Sara Bolt) is Associate Professor of School Psychology at Michigan State University. She teaches courses in psychological assessment and intervention to school psychology graduate students. Her research focuses on examining assessment tools that can enhance instructional decision-making for students who are at risk for poor academic outcomes. Dr. Witmer also conducts research on accommodations for diverse learners students with disabilities and English language learners and more generally on methods for the effective inclusion of all students in large-scale assessment and accountability programs. John Salvia is Professor Emeritus of Special Education at the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Salvia is also the author of individual tests and numerous articles on the assessment of students with disabilities. His research focused on using assessment information to plan and evaluate educational programs and the impact of regular education reforms on assessment practices with exceptional students. Dr. Salvia remains interested in the extent to which students receive appropriate educational assessments. James E. Ysseldyke has been educating school psychologists and researchers for more than 35 years and is now Professor Emeritus in the School Psychology Program at the University of Minnesota. He has advised and mentored more than 100 doctoral and Ed.S. students who have gone on to leadership positions in universities school systems government agencies and research organizations. He has served the University of Minnesota as director of the Minnesota Institute for Research on Learning Disabilities director of the National School Psychology Network director of the National Center on Educational Outcomes and associate dean for research. Dr. Ysseldyke's research and writing have focused on enhancing the competence of individual students and enhancing the capacity of systems to meet students' needs. He is an author of major textbooks and more than 300 journal articles. Dr. Ysseldyke has received awards for his research from the School Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association the American Educational Research Association and the Council for Exceptional Children. The University of Minnesota presented him a distinguished teaching award and he received a distinguished alumni award from the University of Illinois.