Description
Book SynopsisThe
Autism Program Environment Rating Scale – Middle/High School (APERS-MH) is an assessment used to evaluate the quality of educational programs for preschool/elementary students with autism. The APERS-MH contains 69 assessment items organized in 11 domains (e.g., Learning Environments, Curriculum and Instruction, Post-Secondary Transition Planning etc.). To complete the assessment, a trained APERS rater visits the school program. The rater 1) reviews student records for 2-3 focal students with autism, 2) interviews school personnel and parents of the focal students, and 3) observes these students throughout their school day, taking notes throughout the process, before completing an electronic scoring tool. The rater then shares the results with school personnel to use in improving program quality.
Table of Contents
- About the Downloads
- About the Authors
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
-
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Autism Program Environment Rating Scale
- The APERS and Program Quality
- APERS-MH at a Glance
- Context for the APERS: Assessment of Quality in Education
- APERS Development
- APERS 2023
- Summary
Chapter 2: Getting Started: APERS Training and Administration
- Step 1: Complete APERS Training
- Step 2: Make Initial Arrangements for the APERS
- Step 3a: Review IEPS and Other Relevant Student Records
- Step 3b: Conduct Observations
- Step 3c: Complete Interviews
- Additional Considerations for Self-Contained Special Education Classes and Inclusive Programs
- Summary
- Appendix 2.1 APERS-MH Record Review Guide
- Appendix 2.2 APERS-MH Observer Guide
- Appendix 2.3 APERS-MH Tip Sheet
- Appendix 2.4 Sample Letter to Administrator
- Appendix 2.5 APERS-MH Planning Guide (Preliminary Interview)
- Appendix 2.6 Sample Letter to Parent
Chapter 3: Scoring the APERS
- Data Used to Score the APERS-MH
- Reviewing Data
- Making Judgments About APERS-MH Items
- Using the Scoring Tool
- Item Format and Scoring
- Scoring Description by Domains
- Automatic Generation of Scores
- APERS-MH Scoring Calculator
- Summary
Chapter 4: Using APERS Information
- National, State, and Local Leaders’ Use of APERS Information
- Research Uses of APERS Results
- Summary
Chapter 5: APERS Self-Assessment
- Format for Items
- Description of Program Quality Domains
- Procedures for Completing the APERS-MH Self-Assessment Tool
- Using the APERS-MH Self-Assessment Program Ratings
- Summary
Chapter 6: Understanding the Empirical Foundations and Research Uses of APERS
- Psychometric Features of the APERS
- NPDC and the First Use of APERS in Research and Evaluation
- Evaluating the NPDC Model When Implemented in Elementary Schools
- Evaluating Changes in Program Quality in the Efficacy Study of the Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (CSESA)
- Using APERS to Promote Program Quality in Sweden
- Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
- Glossary
- References
- Index
