BASELINE ASSESSMENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION: WHAT TO ASSESS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR

Laura
May 5
3 min read

The start of a new school year brings fresh faces, new IEPs, and one big question: Where do I begin? Baseline assessments are your answer. In special education, especially when working with students with cognitive disabilities, early assessments are essential to shape instruction, set meaningful goals, and provide the right support from day one.

Colorful pens and pencils on white background with pastel papers. Text reads "ASSESSING STUDENTS at the beginning of the year."

Let’s break down what you should assess and why it matters.

Academic Skills

Start with the basics. Assess foundational reading and math skills to understand each student’s starting point:

Reading: Letter and sound recognition, CVC word decoding, sight word fluency, and comprehension.
Math: Number recognition, counting, one-to-one correspondence, and basic operations aligned with IEP goals.

Pro Tip: Use this data to adapt instruction and identify which grade-level alternate standards are appropriate for each student.

Communication Skills

For many students with cognitive disabilities, communication is a key area of need. Early assessments should look at:

Expressive language: Verbal output or AAC use.
Receptive language: Understanding directions and spoken language.

This helps determine if supports like visual aids or communication boards are needed and whether IEP communication goals need adjustments.

Functional Skills

In special education, functional skills are just as important as academic ones. Assess students’ abilities in areas like:

Following schedules or routines
Recognizing personal information (name, address, phone number)
Using tools like timers or visual checklists

This builds the foundation for increased independence both in school and in the community.

Social Skills & Behavior

Assess how your students engage with peers, manage transitions, and respond to sensory input. Observe:

Social interactions (sharing, turn-taking, group work)
Emotional regulation
Behavior patterns that may require intervention or data collection (e.g., aggression, elopement)

Early observations help you build a structured, supportive classroom that meets emotional and social needs from the start.

Four students engaged in discussion at a table, smiling and attentive. Bright classroom setting, one holding a pencil, wearing casual shirts.

“But They’re Already on an IEP—Why Assess Again?”

Great question. Students come to us from a variety of classrooms, teaching styles, and support levels. A student's IEP tells us the progress they are making towards one specific skill, but it does not tell us where a student is in relation to the grade-level standards.

Baseline assessments give you:

A fresh, current snapshot of each student's abilities
Data to guide your curriculum pacing
Insight to skills not captured by students' IEP goals

Sometimes, IEP goals are outdated or oddly specific. And if your students are transitioning between buildings, like from elementary to middle school, you may need to shift instructional focus anyway.

Clipboard with an assessment form for matching colors, shapes, and vocabulary. Surrounded by pastel stationery on a white surface. — Click here to download the free Basic Skills Assessments.

How I Use Assessments to Build My Pacing Guide

IEP goals are not the curriculum. They’re targets, but your pacing guide is the map. I assess before finalizing my yearlong plan to make sure my instructional sequence aligns with both the IEP and grade-level alternate standards.

So, what do we assess? Here is a list of assessments I typically choose from. Of course, some students will require 1:1 and some creative trial and error.

Academic & Functional Assessments:

Spelling Inventory

Phonemic Awareness – Tools like the PAST or QPAS (free online)

Basic Reading Skills – Letter ID, sounds, blends/digraphs, sight words, fluency, comprehension

Writing Sample

Basic Math Skills – Colors, shapes, number ID, rote and skip counting, 1:1 correspondence, subitizing, operations

Telling Time Assessment

Money Skills Assessment

Personal Info Assessment

Pink polka dot clipboard with a filled personal info form for "Ross," dated 4/23/25. Pink pens visible on a wooden surface. — Download the free Personal Info Assessment in the resource library.

Curriculum Placement Tests:

After reviewing reading and math data, I use curriculum placement tests to place students appropriately within our curriculum materials, like Reading Mastery.

Pink binder with placement test page, pastel sticky notes, pens with patterns, and highlighters on a white background.

Behavioral Assessments:

Classroom observations (general and special ed settings)
ABC data collection for any students with behavior plans or challenging behavior

What If There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Tool?

Spoiler alert: There isn’t. We use the Brigance in my district, which is a solid option. However, I have created my own assessments and combined them with other assessments I have found throughout the years to accurately assess all the areas listed above.

You’ll likely have to build your own assessment toolbox. But the good news? Once you’ve got it, it makes back-to-school season 1000x easier.

Download your set of FREE basic skills assessments.

Don’t Forget: Collect Data on Previous IEP Goals

Check previous progress reports. Collect baseline data on any continuing IEP goals so you can track regression, growth, or stagnation right away. Add this info to your data sheets and keep it in the student’s file. It’ll be gold when they transition to another school or teacher.