Growth for Education through Information

Expert, transdisciplinary teams of diagnostic professionals provide assessment services. Assessment teams may include educational specialists, speech and language specialists, school psychologists, clinical psychologists, secondary specialists, motor specialists, pediatricians and other specialists who address the educational needs of California's most difficult to serve special education students. The diagnostic questions, coupled with the student's educational profile, guide the planning and implementation, as well as the location, of the assessment. Each assessment is:

• Individualized
• Guided by a set of educationally relevant diagnostic questions
• Designed to support the LEA efforts by providing specialized intervention
  strategies and programming options.

Assessment Types and Locations

A student may be assessed at the local school site, at the Diagnostic Center, or in both school and Diagnostic Center environments. The Assessment Team determines the location of the assessment.

In addition, eligible students may be assisted through a field-based, group or classroom assessment model. Collaboratively planned with LEA staff, group/classroom assessments focus on issues such as strategic planning, service delivery, intervention design, behavior and curriculum support.

Parents As Partners

Collaboration with parents is an important, valued, and integral component of the assessment process. Parents assume an active role in the team-process through input into the referral questions, participation in portions of the assessment, and extensive interviews with the Assessment Team.

Sharing Assessment Results and Linking to Instruction

Following the completion of an individual assessment, Diagnostic Center staff meet with the parents and LEA representatives to share their findings and recommendations, including practical teaching strategies and interventions. In addition, the family and LEA receive a comprehensive, written report.

Technical Assistance

Technical assistance and consultation services are available to LEAs for previously assessed students. Technical assistance requests range from consultation regarding an individual student, to resource and referral information, to in-depth content training and multiple levels, including demonstration teaching, of follow-up support and school-based consultation services.

Professional Development

The Diagnostic Centers are recognized as leaders in professional development. Professional development opportunities are developed by the Diagnostic Centers in response to local and state identified needs. Trainings are available in a variety of formats, including one-day workshops, special projects (in-depth assistance, including demonstration teaching), web-based learning opportunities and via video-conferencing. The three Diagnostic Centers disseminate a syllabus annuallydescribing training opportunities available throughout their region. Click below to review scheduled trainings for each center.

• DCN Training Schedule
• DCC Training Schedule
• DCS Training Schedule