It’s easy to recognize that gifted education programs have the power to change lives. Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that when students with high ability have access to gifted and talented services, many blossom into high-achieving adults, poised to make significant contributions to society1,2. However, the barriers to entry often include...
As the evolution of assessment best practices continues, the surge in professionals embracing digital assessments is driven by efficiency, accuracy, and convenience. These tools offer streamlined administration, standardized processes, and the ability to provide tailored, engaging assessments while facilitating remote services and data-driven decision-making. However, some clinicians and school psychologists are...
In a report from the Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute at Purdue University, it’s estimated that as many as half of gifted students, some 3.6 million children in the U.S. may be missing out on gifted education. Tressa Wright previously worked with a gifted education team for a school district...
Rebecca Ragland is an Assessment Consultant in our Education division at MHS. As an experienced school psychologist with a background in public education, she shares her knowledge of how other school psychologists can better support students and their families in the upcoming school year. We talk about disruptions in youth...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interfere with functioning and development. Both the outlined criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR; APA, 2022) and the determination of educational eligibility under the...
Fairness is at the core of the Ortiz Picture Vocabulary Acquisition Test™ (Ortiz PVAT™; Ortiz, 2018). Fairness, in the context of assessments, refers to a test’s capacity to provide reliable and valid scores for all relevant test-takers across all relevant subgroups. At MHS, we’re proud of our commitment to a...
Tests are gateways to opportunity. An opportunity to get mental health treatment and receive learning supports, to be selected for special academic programming. To get hired, coached, or promoted, and to guide decisions regarding risk, levels of supervision, and treatment in criminal justice settings. They are a gateway to life-changing...
In the context of giftedness assessment, tests are often the gatekeepers to opportunity. Historically, nonverbal tests were a student’s only means of demonstrating their ability while remaining largely free from knowledge acquired in an educational environment. Unfortunately, to be eligible for gifted and advanced programs, many states require proof of...
In the summer of 2022, Conners 4th Edition (Conners 4TM), the highly anticipated revision of Conners 3rd Edition (Conners 3®), the world's leading ADHD assessment, was released. Our research and development teams incorporated the most current research and user experience data into the Conners 4 in collaboration with numerous experts....
Educators and mental health professionals have grown increasingly concerned about the exposure to and experience of trauma among children and adolescents. In a school setting, childhood adversity and trauma are associated with lower achievement, truancy and dropout, behavioral problems, mental illness, neurobiological changes, and difficulty managing emotions and social relationships...
