Student Data Analysis and Constructed Response
Course Prefix and Number:
Part 1: Student data review and analysis
Directions:
- Analyze the information provided in the exhibits below. These documents provide you with various types of data for a special education student. *These links take you to the bottom of this document, where all this data is provided.
- Exhibit 1: Student Profile
- Exhibit 2: IEP Goals and Progress
- Exhibit 3: Student Assessment Results
- Exhibit 4: Learning Objective, Success Criteria, and Student Assignment
- Exhibit 5: Student Work Sample(s)
- Identify five key takeaways (one from each exhibit). Write those most important points below.
- Exhibit 1: Insert your response here
- Exhibit 2: Insert your response here
- Exhibit 3: Insert your response here
- Exhibit 4: Insert your response here
- Exhibit 5: Insert your response here
- After reviewing the data, identify the student’s strengths and needs.
- List two areas of strength. One should be academic/instructional (ELAR or Math), and the other should be behavioral, social-emotional, communication, or transition-related:
- Insert academic/instructional (ELAR or Math) strength here
- Insert behavioral, social-emotional, communication, or transition strength here
- Where in the data or information provided did you find evidence for these strengths?
- Insert evidence for the first strength here
- Insert evidence for the second strength here
- List two areas of need. One should be academic/instructional, and the other should be behavioral, social-emotional, communication, or transition-related:
- Insert academic/instructional (ELAR or Math) need here
- Insert behavioral, social-emotional, communication, or transition need here
- Where in the data or information provided did you find evidence for these needs?
- Insert evidence for the first need here
- Insert evidence for the second need here
Part 2: Recommendation
Directions:
Reflect on the data you reviewed and your analysis of that data to respond to the prompts below.
Focus ononeneed you listed above (academic [ELAR/Math] or behavioral. Based on that need, examine the lesson and assignment correlated with that need (see Exhibits 4 and 5). Then, recommendoneproposed additional accommodation, instructional strategy, or approach that would promote the student’s access to the given assignment.
- Insert the need you are choosing to focus on here.
- Insert a basic statement of your recommendation here
How would you describe your recommendation? Use the prompts below to guide your response. *Try to keep your responses to each question limited to 1-3 sentences in length while still answering the question(s).
- Is this recommendation focused on instruction, intervention, or both?
- Insert your response here
- What specific actions or steps would need to happen for the teacher(s) to put this recommendation in place?
- Insert your response here
- Which examples from the previous section’s data support your recommendation?
- Insert your response here
- What student need does this recommendation address?
- Insert your response here
- How does this recommendation incorporate the student’s strengths?
- Insert your response here
- Who would need to be involved in carrying out this recommendation, and what role would each person play?
- Insert your response here
- In what setting(s) and how would this recommendation be put into practice?
- Insert your response here
- Explain why this recommendation for additional accommodation, instructional strategy, or approach would be effective.
- Insert your response here
- Describe how you could best monitor and evaluate the student’s progress with the given assignment using the accommodation, instructional strategy, or approach you recommend.
- What data should be collected to monitor progress?
- Insert your response here
- Who would collect it?
- Insert your response here
- When would this data collection occur?
- Insert your response here
- How would you evaluate this data in relation to your recommendation?
- Insert your response here
- What data should be collected to monitor progress?
- How often should this recommendation be implemented, and for how long?
- Insert your response here
- How does this recommendation align with the student’s IEP goals?
- Insert your response here
- How would your recommendation help this student be successful?
- Insert your response here
Part 3: Written Response
Directions:
This section is designed to help prepare you for the written response section of your certification exam. Please follow the steps below.
Taking all your responses in the analysis and recommendations sections in Parts 1 and 2, compile all of that information into a coherent and concise essay responding to the prompt below.
- Your response should be between 400-600 words in length.
- To check the word count, highlight your text, go to the “Tools” menu, and select “Word Count.” This will show the word count of the selected text.
- Be sure your response is clear and concise.
- Your response should demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have gained in this course related to EC-12 Special Education.
Prompt:
Analyze the information provided in the exhibits and, citing specific evidence from the exhibits, write a response of approximately 400–600 words in which you:
- Identifyonearea of strength andonearea of need for the student based on a review of the formal and informal assessment data provided;
- Use the student’s identified strength to describeoneproposed additional accommodation, instructional strategy, or approach that would promote the student’s access to the given assignment;
- Explain why this additional accommodation, instructional strategy, or approach would be effective; and
- Describe how you could best monitor and evaluate the student’s progress with the given assignment using the accommodation, instructional strategy, or approach you recommend.
Type your essay here
Part 4: Self-Analysis
Directions:
Analysis #1
Please review our 240 Certification rubric for this assessment below. Then, respond to the questions below. **If it is difficult to see here, you can also view this rubric in Canvas on this assessment.



- How would you score yourself on each criterion?
- Criterion #1: Student Data Review and Analysis (Part 1) –Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
- Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
- Criterion #1: Student Data Review and Analysis (Part 1) –Insert your response here
- Criterion #2: Recommendation (Part 2) Questions 1-4 –Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
- Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
- Criterion #3: Recommendation (Part 2) Questions 5-8 –Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
- Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
- Criterion #4: Recommendation (Part 2) Questions 9-12 –Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
- Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
- Criterion #5: Written Response (Part 3) Content –Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
- Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
- Criterion #6: Written Response (Part 3) Accuracy and Composition –Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
- Insert your response here
- If you gave yourself the highest score, where can you find evidence to support it in your essay? If you did not, what were you missing, and what could you have added to meet that requirement?
**You do NOT have to rate yourself on Criterion #7: Self-Analysis (Part 4)**
Analysis #2
Please review the rubric that will be used on your TExES exam. Then, respond to the questions below.

Questions:
- Based on this rubric, what overall score would you give your essay: 4, 3, 2, 1, U, or B?
- Insert your response here
- If you were asked to justify/defend your score, how would you respond, and what evidence would you provide to support your response?
- Insert your response here
Reflection
Take a moment to reflect on everything you have done in this assessment. Respond to the prompts below.
- Do you feel this assessment prepares you for the constructed response (essay) portion of your EC-12 Special Education Specialist TExES exam? WHY OR WHY NOT?
- Insert your response here
- What areas do you plan to work on before the official TExES exam?
- Insert your response here
- How can you apply what you have learned from this assessment to your practice as a Special Education teacher?
- Insert your response here
Student Data Artifacts for Part 1
Exhibit 1: Student Profile
Amir is a sixth-grade student who is twelve years old. Considering Amir’s current annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals, his special education teacher and sixth-grade general education teacher meet to plan and differentiate a given assignment and discuss a method for collecting progress monitoring data for him.
Background Information and Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP)
- Amir was born full-term with no reports of maternal complications.
- Auditory and visual screening results are within normal limits.
- Sensorimotor, developmental, and speech-language milestones were met within expected timeframes.
- Amir was found eligible for special education services under the category of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) following a Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE) conducted in third grade.
Presenting Concerns
- Amir participates in reading tasks with support but often has difficulty identifying main ideas or summarizing key information from texts. When asked to respond to open-ended comprehension questions, he may become frustrated or disengaged unless scaffolds are in place. He typically performs better on reading activities that incorporate visuals or structured formats such as graphic organizers.
- In math, Amir completes calculations accurately during guided tasks but sometimes leaves multi-step problems unfinished or misinterprets what the question is asking when extra information is included. He often looks to adults for clarification and needs tasks broken down to begin working independently.
- Transitions between subjects or settings can lead to hesitation or avoidance unless Amir is provided with clear expectations and visual cues. His engagement tends to decrease when classroom routines are disrupted or when instructions are not broken into smaller, manageable steps.
- During group work or class discussions, Amir is attentive and cooperative but may not initiate conversation with peers or interpret social nuances without prompting. He shows greater participation when tasks are clearly modeled and when interaction is structured by the teacher.
Education History
- Received Tier 2 reading interventions in second grade due to concerns with comprehension and writing.
- Progress was minimal, and Amir was referred for a special education evaluation in third grade.
- Identified as a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and began receiving special education services.
- Currently attends general education classes with inclusion support and receives small-group instruction in reading and math multiple times per week.
- Benefits from accommodations such as extended time, visual schedules, graphic organizers, and frequent teacher check-ins.
- Actively participates in the school’s STEM club and enjoys hands-on learning, especially in science-related projects.
- Described by teachers as polite, thoughtful, and eager to help when expectations are clear. Continues to build independence and self-advocacy skills.
Exhibit 2: IEP Goals and Progress
The following data describes progress monitoring results for Amir Delgado based on his current IEP goals. Each goal area includes the current goal statements, documented progress at key intervals, and a narrative summary of Amir’s performance to date.
Reading Comprehension Goals
|
IEP Goal |
Baseline |
Mid-Year Progress |
Current Level |
Progress Toward Goal |
|
By the next annual IEP, |
50% |
60% |
65% |
Weekly monitoring shows |
|
By the next annual IEP, |
45% |
55% |
63% |
Amir continues to require |
Math Problem-Solving Goals
|
IEP Goal |
Baseline |
Mid-Year Progress |
Current Level |
Progress Toward Goal |
|
By the next annual IEP, |
70% |
75% |
78% |
Bi-weekly assessments show |
|
By the next annual IEP, |
55% |
62% |
67% |
Amir can explain reasoning |
Behavioral Goal
|
IEP Goal |
Baseline |
Mid-Year Progress |
Current Level |
Progress Toward Goal |
|
By the next annual IEP, |
2/5 |
3/5 |
3/5 |
Daily logs show increased |
Instructional Accommodations
•Tasks are broken into smaller steps with frequent verbal check-ins
•Graphic organizers are provided for reading and written responses
Behavioral Accommodations
•Daily use of a visual schedule to support transitions
•Pre-correction and verbal prompts are used before transitions or unstructured changes
Exhibit 3: Student Assessment Results
The following data represent Amir Delgado’s performance across formal and informal assessments administered as part of the Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE) and ongoing progress monitoring. Assessment results are used to identify current academic and behavioral levels, instructional needs, and areas requiring support.
Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth Edition (WISC-V)
Mean = 100; Standard Deviation = 15
|
Composite |
Composite Score |
Percentile Rank |
Qualitative Description |
|
Verbal Comprehension Index |
85 |
16th |
Low Average |
|
Visual Spatial Index (VSI) |
92 |
30th |
Average |
|
Fluid Reasoning Index (FRI) |
90 |
25th |
Average |
|
Working Memory Index (WMI) |
84 |
14th |
Low Average |
|
Processing Speed Index |
80 |
9th |
Low |
|
Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) |
86 |
18th |
Low Average |
Weschler Individual Achievement Test – Third Edition (WIAT-III)
Mean = 100; Standard Deviation = 15
|
Composite |
Composite Score |
Percentile Rank |
Descriptive Category |
|
Reading Comprehension |
78 |
7th |
Below Average |
|
Word Reading |
90 |
25th |
Average |
|
Math Problem Solving |
83 |
13th |
Below Average |
|
Numerical Operations |
95 |
37th |
Average |
|
Written Expression |
80 |
9th |
Low Average |
5th Grade Reading Comprehension Inventory
Key: 1 = Rarely Demonstrates, 2 = Sometimes Demonstrates, 3 = Consistently Demonstrates
|
Skill Area |
Fall |
Winter |
|
Identifies main idea |
1 |
2 |
|
Uses supporting details |
1 |
2 |
|
Summarizes text |
1 |
2 |
|
Makes inferences |
1 |
2 |
|
Responds to open-ended |
1 |
2 |
|
Teacher Amir |
||
Curriculum-Based Math Assessment
Key: 1 = Rarely Demonstrates, 2 = Sometimes Demonstrates, 3 = Consistently Demonstrates
|
Skill Area |
Fall |
Winter |
|
Computes with accuracy |
2 |
3 |
|
Interprets word problems |
1 |
2 |
|
Identifies relevant |
1 |
2 |
|
Explains reasoning orally |
2 |
2 |
|
Explains reasoning in |
1 |
1 |
|
Teacher Amir |
||
Behavioral Observations Summary
Key: 1 = Rarely Demonstrates, 2 = Sometimes Demonstrates, 3 = Consistently Demonstrates
|
Behavioral Skill Area |
Fall |
Winter |
|
Transitions between tasks |
1 |
2 |
|
Initiates peer interaction |
1 |
1 |
|
Stays on task during |
2 |
2 |
|
Follows adult directions |
2 |
3 |
|
Responds to feedback |
2 |
3 |
|
Teacher Amir |
||
Exhibit 4: Learning Objectives, Success Criteria, and Student Assignments
English Language Arts
The following instructional plan was created collaboratively by Amir Delgado’s general education English Language Arts teacher and special education teacher to support the development of reading comprehension skills within the sixth-grade curriculum. Instruction is designed to align with state standards, address Amir’s IEP goals, and provide scaffolds that support his participation in the general education setting.
TEKS:
§110.22. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 6, Adopted 2017. (b)(7)(D) – summarize the plot’s main events, conflict, and resolution in a work of fiction with emphasis on the relationship between characters and the advancement of the plot.
Daily Learning Objective
Students will summarize the major events in a fictional story, including the conflict and resolution, and explain how these events influence the actions and relationships of characters.
Success Criteria
•I can identify key events in a story that relate to the conflict and resolution.
• I can describe how a character responds to the conflict.
• I can summarize a fictional story in a way that includes character actions and major plot points.
Student Assignments
1. Participate in whole-class discussion of story events using a shared anchor chart.
2. Complete a graphic organizer identifying major events, conflict, and resolution.
3. Write a brief summary of the story, including key character actions.
4. Share the summary orally with a partner using the graphic organizer as a guide.
Mathematics
The following instructional plan was developed collaboratively by Amir Delgado’s general education mathematics teacher and special education teacher. It aims to support Amir’s development of problem-solving skills within the context of sixth-grade geometry concepts. The instruction aligns with state standards, addresses Amir’s IEP goals, and provides scaffolds to facilitate his participation in the general education setting.
TEKS:
§111.26. Mathematics, Grade 6, Adopted 2012. (b)(8)(C) – Write equations that represent problems related to the area of rectangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, and triangles and volume of right rectangular prisms where dimensions are positive rational numbers.
§111.26. Mathematics, Grade 6, Adopted 2012. (b)(1)(B) – Use a problem-solving model that incorporates analyzing given information, formulating a plan or strategy, determining a solution, justifying the solution, and evaluating the problem-solving process and the reasonableness of the solution.
Daily Learning Objective
Students will write equations to represent and solve real-world problems involving the area of rectangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, and triangles, using positive rational numbers.
Success Criteria
•I can identify the appropriate formula for the area of a given two-dimensional shape.
• I can substitute given measurements into the area formula accurately.
• I can solve the equation to find the area and interpret the result in the context of the problem.
Student Assignments
1. Participate in a guided lesson where the teacher models writing and solving an equation for the area of a trapezoid using a real-world example.
2. Complete a worksheet with problems requiring writing equations for the area of various shapes and solving them.
3. Engage in a hands-on activity where students measure the dimensions of classroom objects and calculate their area.
4. Work in pairs to create and solve their own real-world area problems, then present their solutions to the class.
Social Skills Lesson: Initiating and Responding in Peer Interactions
The following lesson was created collaboratively by Amir Delgado’s special education case manager and general education teacher to address Amir’s individual behavioral goals and support his growth in social communication and independence during classroom routines.
Social Skills Learning Objective
Students will practice initiating and responding to peer interactions using appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication during group or partner tasks.
Success Criteria
- I can make eye contact or face my peer when speaking.
- I can use a conversation starter (e.g., “Can I help with that?” or “What do you think?”).
- I can respond appropriately when someone talks to me.
- I can use a checklist to monitor how I interact with my group or partner.
Student Assignment
1. Participate in a modeled conversation led by the teacher that includes common group-work interactions (greeting, asking for help, responding politely).
2. Role-play two short peer interaction scenarios using visuals or scripted cards to guide conversation choices.
3. During a structured partner activity (e.g., reviewing math work), use a peer interaction checklist to self-monitor behaviors (eye contact, taking turns, verbal response).
4. Complete a short written reflection after the activity. The reflection will ask students to describe what they did well, what they found difficult, and one goal for next time (sentence starters provided as needed).
Exhibit 5: Student Work Samples
English Language Arts
The work sample below was completed by Amir in response to the daily learning objective, success criteria, and assignment described in the previous exhibit.
TEKS Reference:§110.22. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 6, Adopted 2017. (b)(7)(D) – summarize the plot’s main events, conflict, and resolution in a work of fiction with emphasis on the relationship between characters and the advancement of the plot.
Amir’s written summary of the story:
|
The The problem was she got lost. |
Mathematics
The work sample below was completed by Amir in response to the daily learning objective, success criteria, and assignment described in the previous exhibit.
TEKS References:
§111.26. Mathematics, Grade 6, Adopted 2012. (b)(8)(C) – Write equations that represent problems related to the area of rectangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, and triangles and volume of right rectangular prisms where dimensions are positive rational numbers.
§111.26. Mathematics, Grade 6, Adopted 2012. (b)(1)(B) – Use a problem-solving model that incorporates analyzing given information, formulating a plan or strategy, determining a solution, justifying the solution, and evaluating the problem-solving process and the reasonableness of the solution.
Amir’s worksheet sample for solving for the area of a trapezoid:
|
Top A The area is 15.75 square meters. That is the
|
Behavioral/Social Skills
The work sample below was completed by Amir in response to the daily learning objective, success criteria, and assignment described in the previous exhibit.
Social Skills Lesson:Initiating and Responding in Peer Interactions
Amir’s written reflection on peer interaction activity:
|
Today I |