• Does the assessment tool answer the questions you are asking? For example, if you were asking how does a learner's achievement in his/her comprehension compare with others of the same age - you would use a norm referenced test. If you want to know what writing errors a learner is struggling with you may choose to use a work sample analysis.
  • If you are planning to use a formal assessment tool, you will want check that the norm is appropriate for your learner. If the norm that the results are measured against is related to a group of elementary primary level students and you are working with adults, then you need to assess the impact this would have on the results.
  • Is the tool economical in terms of money and/or time? How long will it take practitioners to learn how to use the tool? How much time will it take for learners to complete the assessment? How much time is required to interpret the results?
  • The time needed for the learner to engage in the process should be reasonable. If a time is not provided then common sense prevails. Two factors to examine when deciding a suitable length of time are the learners the program serves and the staff availability.
  • The assessment material should be consistent with what is currently known about learning disabilities. Theories and definitions of learning disabilities have changed over time, so you need to ensure the basis for the screening tool is reflective of the most recent research. Copyright dates are not the best guide because the tool may have been based on an earlier theory about learning disabilities, but may have been revised every few years.
  • Research supports the links between screening procedures and instructional materials. If there are recommendations for learning strategies based on the results of the screening, then you need to feel confident that they reflect the predicted learning disabilities. "The validity information should show the screening test results can accurately predict which intervention, material, or procedure is better. Without that information, treat the recommendations with extreme caution."56